CFP: 2nd edition of Asynchronous Histories Summer School

 Dear Colleagues,

we would like to kindly invite you to the 2nd edition of Asynchronous Histories Summer School which will be held in Warsaw 31 August - 4 September 2026:

 

https://ihpan.edu.pl/en/cfp-asynchronous-histories-summer-school/

 

The Asynchronous Histories Summer School aims to explore regions and moments in history marked by the coexistence of asynchronous sociopolitical tendencies and processes. These conditions often reveal paradoxical outcomes when seemingly well-established actors and mechanisms are put into practice. The absence—or inefficiency—of "The Great Synchronizer," whether imperial order, centralized state apparatus, or the power of capital, has, in various periods and regions, created fertile grounds for blending the old and the new in unequal and unexpected ways.

 

Rather than viewing this coexistence of asynchronicities as a static phenomenon, we understand it as a dynamic and intricate process. In such situations, old forms may act as tools paving the way for new developments, while new forms may consolidate old arrangements, laws, and privileges. This interplay also triggers epistemological challenges, as research tools developed in global centres often fail to yield productive results when applied to these complex settings. This is why it is both challenging and indispensable to abandon normative definitions of phenomena and states of affairs in favour of listening to local actors, whose diversity ultimately calls into question apparently universal models and descriptions of reality—models that, in practice, are deeply rooted in Western centres.

 

In adopting such a perspective, we draw inspiration from several contemporary intellectual currents that seek to develop thinking in this direction. First, Reinhart Koselleck’s concept of multiple temporalities enables us to discern the non-linear character of time in human societies. Second, postcolonial and subaltern narratives continually challenge Western epistemic frameworks that remain incongruent with large parts of the world beyond capitalist centers. Third, alternative conceptions of modernity pave the way for rethinking the modern project as a plural rather than a singular phenomenon.

 

By understanding asynchronicity in such ways, we aim to encourage a rethinking of the past through this powerful umbrella tool. We invite early-career scholars from all areas of the humanities and social sciences to join us in a shared intellectual exploration.

 

Among the distinguished lecturers for the second edition are:

 

Franz Fillafer - Austrian Academy of Sciences

Augusta Dimou – University of Leipzig

Helge Jordheim - University of Oslo

Karen Lauwers - University of Helsinki

Rosario Lopez – University of Málaga

Jani Marjanen – University of Helsinki

Banu Turnaoglu – University of Cambridge, Sabancı University

Oliver Zajac – Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava

Tomasz Zarycki - University of Warsaw

 

Organizing Institutions: 

Institute of Applied Social Sciences, University of Warsaw

The German Historical Institute, Warsaw

The Gabriel Narutowicz Institute of Political Thought, 

 

in partnership with

Tadeusz Manteuffel Institute of History of the Polish Academy of Sciences

The History of Concepts Group

 

Organizing Comittee: Anna Gulińska, Bartłomiej Błesznowski, Jan Krakowian, Piotr Kuligowski

 

We welcome submissions from PhD students. Advanced MA students and early career postdocs (up to two years post-defence) are also encouraged to apply.

 

How to Apply?

 

Please submit the following materials by May 31, 2026:

• a short CV (maximum two pages).

• a concise description of your research interests (up to 1,000 words).

Send your application to ahss.warsaw@gmail.com

 

The participation fee is 150 EUR or 650 PLN. In justified cases, this fee may be reduced.