Historians and Civic Engagement from 1945 to the Present Day

How can civic engagement be combined with the historian’s craft? To what extent did the historical context and intellectual experiences of European historians who lived through the Second World War influence their historiographical path? What political and cultural impact of the profession of historian can we see in the civilized society that has just emerged from the Second World War, and how has the role of historians changed in the 20th and 21st centuries in Europe?

On the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe and the liberation of the occupied European countries from Nazi-fascism, the ISIG LXVI Study Week 2025 will focus on two levels of analysis: First, with the historiographical debate in Europe since 1945 and, second, with the question of how this can be examined in the light of the different experiences of historians in their civic and political engagement activities in national and international civil society. Various activities that characterize the profession of historian will be considered, such as: participation in politics; participation in historical commissions; the founding of historical institutes; networking in an international environment; participation in publishing endeavors; participation in public debates; social and political activism (feminism, decolonization, environment, human rights, LGBTIQ+).

The aim is to trace the history of historiography not only on the basis of the academic production of historians, but also taking into account their historical and political contexts of reference and education.

The study week is an opportunity to reflect on the role of historians today, on the influence they have in national and international public life and on the network of intellectual relationships in which they are also integrated outside academic institutions.

During the Week it will be possible to visit a Documentary Exhibition on Enzo Collotti and his work as a historian.

Confirmed speakers: Margherita Angelini, Marco Armiero, Stefan Berger, Agostino Bistarelli, Renato Camurri, Christoph Cornelissen, Matthew D’Auria, Filippo Focardi, Mikko Immanen, Nicola Labanca, Marie-Anne Matard Bonucci, Giulia Quaggio, Nicolas Sesma, Raffaella Sarti, Christoph Nonn, Marta Verginella, Benjamin Zachariah

Scientific Committee: Gabriele D’Ottavio (University of Trento), Laura Di Fabio (FBK-ISIG), Lutz Klinkhammer (DHI Rom), Cecilia Nubola (FBK-ISIG), Camilla Tenaglia (FBK-ISIG)

Partners: Jean Monnet European Centre of Excellence, University of Trento, DHI Rom