Comparative & Conceptual History

Associate Professor Adrian Brisku, PhD.

Doctoral Student José Jiménez

Department of Russian & East European Studies, Charles University

https://cuni.academia.edu/adrianBrisku

adrian.brisku@fsv.cuni.cz

84882758@fsv.cuni.cz

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Since their emergence, respectively, in 1960s and 1970s, comparative history and conceptual history have become important research perspectives in social sciences and historical studies scholarship. These perspectives are different in many ways, for instance conceptual history is more sensitive to concepts’ semantic context. They are similar in that while comparisons are largely informed by theoretical models, such models are nonetheless conceptual systems, but that have gone through a process of clarification, definition and detachment from their original context. This course provides a solid and contextualized overview of the nature, methodologies and usages of comparative (qualitative) and conceptual history in these two fields. It will do so by detailing and discussing their strengths and shortcomings and in the process help students design comparative and conceptual research projects.

COURSE DESIGN

1. Introduction (Brisku)

2. Comparison as Uncovering Universal Laws, Historical Information & as Explanation: The Annales School Input (Brisku)

3. Comparison as Causality, Change & Variation: The Modernisation Thesis & Social Sciences Input (Brisku)

4. Asymmetric Comparison: The Social History Input (Brisku)

5. Comparative Conceptual History: The Linguistic Turn Input (Brisku)

6. Comparative, Entangled & Transnational History: The Cultural History Input Jimenez)

7. World System Analysis: The Political Economy Input (Brisku)

8. Comparing (within) Regions: Central-Eastern and South-Eastern Europe (Jimenez)

9. Comparing Post-Soviet Societies (Jimenez)

10. Comparative Conceptual History: Europe, Reform ((Jimenez)

11. Comparative Conceptual History of Small Nations (Jimenez)

12. Workshop (Brisku/Jimenez)