Historicizing Violence: The Contested Histories of Present Day Conflict

November 22 - 24, 2017

Violence is a pervasive but contested facet of 21st century life. It manifests itself in political, social, cultural and economic spheres as well as in private lives. Violence remains the persistent object of both scholarly interest and public debate. But just what constitutes violence and the explanation for its character and frequency are contested terrain. Similarly the manner in which present-day violence is historicized- if at all- has profound implication for both scholarly understanding and political responses. All too often the long history of violence is overlooked or imperfect.

This conference will explore the idea of twenty first century violence by highlighting what is often a difficult and disputed past and to navigate the changing dynamics of violence over time.