CFP

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The ActiveHistory.ca committee is pleased to announce that we are actively soliciting papers in all areas of historical inquiry, including but not limited to several specific targeted areas. We are looking for short papers on important historical topics that might be of interest to policy makers, the media or the general public. Papers (approximately 2,000 – 4,000 words in length) should engage critical issues facing Canadian society, and must be written for a general audience.

Several issues have emerged in the public eye that may benefit from historical analysis; additionally, we have raised some specific questions. Here are some suggestions, although we welcome papers on any time period or topic:

* The Economic Crisis in Context: The media and politicians tend to limit their historical comparisons to the Great Depression and a few of the more recent recessions from the 1970s to the 1990s. Historians may be able to offer other economic crises in both Canadian and international history that might provide better comparisons for our current predicament. What are the problems in comparing this crisis to the 1930s?

* Wages in Historical Context: Huge wage and bonus packages for executives in both the private and public sector, along with the high wages and benefits of some unionized employees, have dominated the headlines in the past few months. How have wages changed over time? How much has the gap between the rich and the poor increased?

* The 2010 Vancouver Olympics and the G8 Summit in Historic Context: How have urban or regional spectacles in the past fueled development or a relationship with local communities? How do we balance the promise and reality of mega projects (such as the 1976 Montreal Olympics, Expo ’67 or any other large commemorative event or spectacle)? What is the enduring impact on infrastructure development and change?

* The North: The North is an increasingly major issue in Canada as global warning opens up resource extraction and shipping. Arctic sovereignty is becoming an increasingly important issue. We are looking for historical papers on a wide range of topics from social, economic to political.

We are also interested in papers on a variety of topics, the whole list of which can be found at https://activehistory.ca/papers/themes/ . Our editorial guidelines can be found at https://activehistory.ca/papers/editorial-guidelines/ . Papers should be submitted to submissions@activehistory.ca.

ActiveHistory.ca is a new website to help connect historians with the public, policy makers and the media. This is part of an effort to facilitate and disseminate the ideas developed at the conference “Active History: History for the Future” at York University’s Glendon College in September 2008.

We define active history variously as history that listens and is responsive; history that will make a tangible difference in people’s lives; history that makes an intervention and is transformative to both practitioners and communities. We seek a practice of history that emphasizes collegiality, builds community among active historians and other members of communities, and recognizes the public responsibilities of the historian.

If you have any questions, please contact us at info@activehistory.ca. We look forward to hearing from you.

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