Our Research Network "Queer Contemporary Histories in German-speaking Europe" is organizing the international closing conference "Queer contemporary histories - international and intersectional perspectives" on 1 and 2 July 2024 at Freie Universität Berlin and looking for contributions.
 
The conference aims to expand the spatial and thematic perspective of our previous work beyond the German-speaking world and place it in a broad context of international and intersectional research on queer history. In addition to this broader perspective, the conference will also provide a space for academic discussion on the further implementation of queer historical research. 

For example, papers on the following topics are conceivable: 
 
- Queer Temporalities: How does queer contemporary history perspective itself in temporal terms? How does it relate to the politics of memory? How does it conceive the relationship between past - present - future? What alternative models of historical time does it offer?
- Queer power: What significance does the question of power have in analyses of queer contemporary history? What concepts of power, domination and violence does queer contemporary history work with and what findings does it arrive at?
- Queer Subjectivities and Identities: Is the concept of subjectivity or that of belonging in queer history merely a placeholder for that of identity, which is in any case considered hybrid and multi-layered in research contexts? How do the essentially anti-identitarian approach of queer studies and the study of historical identities fit together?
- Decolonizing Queer (German) History: How are topics and actors of queer contemporary history interwoven into postcolonial power relations? How can we as researchers deal with this?
- Queer Histories and Trans Histories, together or separate? Is trans history a separate field of research, or do trans and queer history belong together? What conceptual differences and similarities can be identified between these two fields?
- Methods of queer contemporary history: What methods does queer historical research work with - perhaps in contrast to other contemporary historical fields? What knowledge gains, what (productive) problems do they entail?
- Queer public histories: What significance does queer contemporary history have in the public representation and presentation of history? What new and innovative forms and formats does a queer culture of remembrance and history produce?
- Queer precarious working conditions: In what working conditions is queer history currently being 'made'? What could be the demands of queer contemporary history in terms of higher education and research policy?

The organizers are looking forward to contributions that identify the theoretical and methodological foundations of the respective research and discuss them on the basis of historical objects or concrete sources.
 
When submitting your application, please bear in mind that the contributions will also be commented on at the respective panels at the conference. Therefore, if you are accepted to the conference, please submit your paper by June 17, 2024. The conference languages are German and English. Translation can be provided if required.
 
The deadline for submitting the proposal (300-500 words) is March 15, 2024, please send it by e-mail to Jonah Reimann: j.reimann@fu-berlin.de

You will be informed about the acceptance of your paper by April 15, 2024. Travel and accommodation costs will be covered.