Conference on Migration and Mobility in a Global Historical Perspective
Taipei, Taiwan
In the last three decades historians of migration in Europe and the Americas have increasingly criticised the idea of a ‘mobility transition', which assumed that pre-modern societies were geographically fairly immobile, and that people only started to move in unprecedented ways from the nineteenth century onwards. In line with this critique is the insight of world historians like Patrick Manning who interpret the history of mankind as a constant geographical and social interaction within and between culturally distinct communities. Especially cross community migrations (both by settlers, invaders, itinerants and sojourners) are considered as the engine of social, economic and cultural change.
This conference takes these new perspectives as point of departure and invites scholars who look at various forms of migration in the last 500 years, preferably (but not exclusively) from a perspective of longue durée. We are especially interested in quantitative reconstructions of population flows in and on Asia (but also other contributions outside Europe / the North-Atlantic are welcome), both within as between countries and empires. In line with a recent reconstruction of migration patterns in Europe between 1500 and 1900, six forms of migration are given particular attention: 1) emigration out of a certain territory; 2) immigration from other territories; 3) rural colonisation of ‘empty spaces'; 4) movements to cities; 5) seasonal migration; 6) multi-annual labour migration, in particular by sailors and soldiers. These migrations can be both free and coerced, and all the variants in between. This explicitly includes the migration of slaves and indentured labour in these six types.
The conference, which will take place in Taiwan, aims to be a high quality and intensive encounter. The number of participants is therefore restricted. For those who will be selected to attend the conference costs for travelling and accommodation will be covered. Applicants should send detailed abstracts as well as a CV with previous publications and activities pertaining to the theme of the conference before 15 November 2009.