This project aims at enhancing our understanding of modern and contemporary European history by viewing it from the perspective of two of its constitutive regions, namely the Nordic/Baltic region and the Mediterranean, with an emphasis on but not limited to the Eastern part of it.
This idea is based on two assumptions: one is that the history of these regions is an outcome of developments at national, European and global levels and were traversed by themes and tensions that in one way or fed into the making of Europe as we know it today; the other is that these themes and tensions had many similarities, but also many differences. These two regions are routinely contrasted with one another because of their divergent developmental trajectories. We want to question this juxtaposition by bringing these regions together and by thinking comparatively about them. In a Braudelian fashion, we understand both regions expansively and not limited to their geographical borders, but also including their cultural, historical, social borders. That said, what the boundaries of the two regions are, is something we want to explore.
At this early stage, we aim:
a/ to bring together scholars working on several aspects of modern Mediterranean and Nordic history in order to exchange ideas, build networks, and explore the possibility of co-operation;
b/ to build a research network and a research project with a long-life span that will make this rapprochement more productive by leading to concrete research outcomes. Our hope is that this network will enable us to re-think and re-imagine the position of the Mediterranean, the Baltic Sea and the Nordic regions vis a vis Central, Western and Eastern Europe and to bridge together peers who have similar interests and who want to think comparatively about their research.
