Historians’ Peripheral Vision: The Discussion Continues at London’s Institute for Historical Research

On September 11, 12:30–3:00 p.m. EDT, theInstitute for Historical Research in London will webcast a live forum, Teaching the Wider World, that responds to an article recently published in Perspectives on History. Keep reading for webcast info, below.

Comparing Geographical Range between US, Canadian,
and UK History Departments

Just how interested are historians in researching the wider world? In May, Perspectives on History ranan article by Luke Clossey and Nicholas Guyatt, based on their survey of the research interests of some 2,500 historians, that raised important questions about just how far the discipline’s vision extends. Even after years of discussion about the importance of researching the wider world, a surprising percentage of historians in the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada, according to the survey, remain focused on Europe and North America.

Following our May publication of these findings, we published reactions by several prominent historians in the US, UK, and Canada. The online forum—featuring Kenneth Pomeranz, Mary Elizabeth Berry, Anne Gerritsen, Kenneth Mills, and Teofilo Ruiz—explored both practical and conceptual barriers standing between historians and the wider world.

Now, the IHR is hosting a “Question Time-style event” with Machel Bogues, Professor Sir Richard Evans, Nicholas Guyatt, Su Lin Lewis, Nicola Sheldon, Jason Todd, and Peter D’Sena. Audience members have been asked to “come ready to engage in the debate and come armed with your questions!” so we can expect a lively exchange.

Live broadcast and archives of the event can be found at Livestream and HistorySpot, and the video feed, which will go live on September 11 at 1:30 p.m. EDT, is embedded below.

This post first appeared on AHA Today.