Convocatorias

Time and Place:
8-24 August, Helsinki, Finland

Organisers:
Helsinki Summer School, Centre for Nordic Studies at the Renvall Institute, University of Helsinki; The Finnish Centre of Excellence in Political Thought and Conceptual Change, University of Jyväskylä; CONCEPTA, an organisation linked to the History of Political and Social Concepts Group; VAKAVA, National Graduate School for Political Science and International Relations and Danish Research School for History.

Students:
The course is suitable for Finnish and international students from various academic backgrounds. Nevertheless, an interest in the humanities and political thought is an advantage. The course is designed for Ph.D. and advanced M.A. students.

Course Description:
The presumption that concepts are timeless has been replaced in recent decades by an awareness of their unavoidable historicity and temporality. By using linguistically orientated methods informed by those advocated by Reinhart Koselleck and Quentin Skinner, conceptual history provides a fresh approach to the analysis of key historical and political concepts. The goal of conceptual history is to illuminate concepts and ideas that are central to the operation of political and social life. It is concerned with the migration, reception, translation, diffusion and employment of concepts and ideas in both time and space.

A group of internationally distinguished scholars will provide participants with the means to re-examine common concepts in the humanities and social sciences from new perspectives. The emphasis of this intensive introductory course is two-fold. First, it will introduce the general premises and practices of conceptual history, thereby enabling participants to use these methods in their own subsequent research. Second, it will explore contemporary trends in conceptual history by means of case studies. The course will be conducted through a series of lectures and workshops.

In order to complete the course successfully, participants will be required to participate in the lectures and workshops and to complete a written assignment. The course is suitable for Finnish and international Ph.D. and advanced M.A. students from various academic backgrounds. Nevertheless, an interest in the humanities and political thought is an advantage. Participants are encouraged to contact the organisers if they would like to present their own work-in-progress in conceptual history and related fields in the workshops.

This 6/10 ECTS credit Helsinki Summer School course is organised and hosted by the University of Helsinki and its Centre for Nordic Studies (CENS) at the Renvall Institute, in cooperation with the Finnish Centre of Excellence in Political Thought and Conceptual Change, University of Jyväskylä; VAKAVA, National Graduate School for Political Science and International Relations and Danish Research School for History. A significant role in organising the course is played by CONCEPTA, an organisation linked to the History of Political and Social Concepts Group. CONCEPTA organises graduate courses in conceptual history and the contextual analysis of political thought at both the introductory and advanced levels.

Credits:
6 or 10 ECTS
6 ECTS requires active participation in the lectures and workshops and an
assignment.

10 ECTS requires a pre-course essay or a work-in-progress paper presented at one of the workshops, active participation in the lectures and workshops and an assignment.

A reading list will be provided on the course website in March as well as information on course assignments.

Teachers and Visiting Lecturers:

• Martin J. Burke, Associate Professor of History and American Studies, Ph.D. Program in History, The Graduate Center, The City University of New York
• Pim den Boer, Professor, Department of Cultural Studies, University of Amsterdam
• Dimitris Efthimiou, Ph.D. Candidate, European University Institute
• João Feres Júnior, Associate Professor, Instituto Universitário de Pesquisas do Rio de Janeiro - IUPERJ
• Jan Ifversen, Head of Institute, Associate Professor, Institute of History and Area Studies, Department of European Studies, Aarhus University
• Pasi Ihalainen, Docent in Intellectual and Conceptual History, Academy Research Fellow, Department of History and Ethnology, University of Jyväskylä
• Jörn Leonhard, HD Dr., Friedrich-Schiller-Hochschuldozentur für Westeuropäische Geschichte, Historisches Institut, Universität Jena
• Pia Letto-Vanamo, Docent, Director, Institute of International Economic Law, University of Helsinki
• Jeppe Nevers, Ph.D. Candidate, Institute of History and Civilization, University of Southern Denmark
• Kari Palonen, Professor, Department of Social Sciences and Philosophy, University of Jyväskylä
• Tuija Parvikko, Academy Research Fellow, Department of Social Sciences and Philosophy, University of Jyväskylä
• Markku Peltonen, Docent, Academy Research Fellow, Department History, University of Helsinki
• Evgeny Roshchin, Ph.D. Candidate, European University at St.Petersburg
• Sami Syrjämäki, Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Philosophy, University of Tampere

Provisional Programme:
Please note that the detailed course programme will be announced at the course website later in the spring.

Tuesday 8 August
Opening Ceremony, Rector’s Reception

Wednesday 9 August
9-10 General Issues
10-12 Introductory Lecture
12-13 Lunch
13-15 Introductory Lecture
16-17.30 Workshop

Thursday 10 August
10-12 Introductory Lecture
12-13 Lunch
13-15 Introductory Lecture
16-17.30 Workshop

Friday 11 August
10-12 Introductory Lecture
12-13 Lunch
13-15 Introductory Lecture
16-17.30 Workshop

Monday 14 August
10-12 Introductory Lecture
12-13 Lunch
13-15 Introductory Lecture
16-17.30 Workshop

Tuesday 15 August
10-12 Introductory Lecture
12-13 Lunch
13-15 Introductory Lecture
16-17.30 Workshop

Wednesday 16 August
Excursion

Thursday 17 August
"Contemporary Trends in Conceptual History" Seminar

Friday 18 August
"Contemporary Trends in Conceptual History" Seminar

Monday 21 August
10-12 Introductory Lecture
12-13 Lunch
13-15 Introductory Lecture

Tuesday 22 August
10-12 Introductory Lecture
12-13 Lunch
13-15 Introductory Lecture

Wednesday 23 August
10-12 Introductory Lecture
12-13 Lunch
13-15 Feedback

Course Fee:
The course fee is 450EUR (100/150EUR registration + 300EUR course fee). For more information on accommodation alternatives, please check the Helsinki Summer School website.

How to Apply:
Application and registration to the course are made at the Helsinki Summer School website and participants are chosen on the basis of their applications. Participants are encouraged to contact the organisers if they would like to present their own work-in-progress in conceptual history and related fields in the workshops.

Please direct any questions concerning the content of this course to the coordinator, Ms. Sanna Joutsijoki at sanna.joutsijoki@helsinki.fi

Any questions concerning the general arrangements should be addressed to the Summer School's office at summer-school@helsinki.fi.

Useful Links:
Helsinki Summer School
http://www.helsinki.fi/summerschool
Centre for Nordic Studies
http://www.helsinki.fi/hum/nordic
CONCEPTA
http://www.helsinki.fi/project/concepta/index.html
History of Political and Social Concepts Group
http://www.jyu.fi/yhtfil/hpscg