Join the Diplomatic/International History Working Group for its first event of the year, in which historians of all interests and other social scientists are most welcome to join.
This interdisciplinary dialogue hosts Matthias Köhler, doctorate of the University of Münster (2010) and Assistant Managing Director of GRADE, the Goethe Research Academy for Early Career Researchers, Goethe-University Frankfurt am Main (since 2017).
This time we move our focus to an ‘all time classic’ topic of diplomatic history, peace congresses, to explore the way novel research questions have revitalised it during the last two decades. A broader question will be posed at the same time: how can Diplomatic/International History best make use of sociological theories?
In my dissertation on the Congress of Nimwegen, argues Dr. Köhler, I started from a methodological debate within history – on the pros and cons of doing the cultural history of politics. I found that the debate could only be clearly conceptualised when using theoretical assumptions. During my presentation, I will explain one such central theoretical assumption, regarding the difference between the symbolic and the instrumental aspect of acting. I will then demonstrate the relevance of the theoretical assumptions by using two examples from my dissertation: 1. diplomats’ formal and informal roles and practices of patronage; 2. arguing, bargaining and the art and language of peacemaking.
Please register in order to receive the ZOOM link.