Call for Papers:

BALTIC CONNECTIONS: Conference in Social Science History

University of Helsinki, Finland, March 22-23, 2019

This inaugural social science history conference will first convene in Helsinki in 2019 and next in Jyvaskylä, Finland in 2020. We aim to bring together scholars working on comparative, economic, social, global, and other types of history and related social sciences to address various “East-West” historical processes and events as well as comparative and transnational analysis, including at the Baltic region, Europe, and the world. Potential topics for paper or panel proposals include but are not limited to trade, migration, comparative development, international political economy, and the diffusion and transplantation of institutions, ideas, and cultural influences. Moreover, we want to promote interdisciplinary encounters and discussions, with the goal of bringing together scholars working in Western, Nordic, Central and East European, Baltic, and Russian universities. Furthermore, we are open to proposals that incorporate new digital technologies in the presentations, including posters, as well as proposals for roundtables, including those focusing on teaching and pedagogy.

Our first keynote speaker is Dr. James Robinson (University of Chicago, author of Why Nations Fail, among countless other publications), who will deliver the inaugural Riitta Hjerppe Lecture in Social Science History. The second speaker is Dr. Matthias Morys (York University), who is one of the leading experts in the economic history of Eastern Europe. And the third speaker is Dr. Heli Valtonen (University of Jyvaskylä), who has published widely on business history topics.

The deadline for proposals is November 15, 2018. Submitters will be notified of acceptance latest by December 1. Proposals can be submitted to: .

The main organizing group for this conference consists of: Jari Eloranta (University of Helsinki), Jari Ojala (University of Jyvaskylä), Sakari Saaritsa (University of Helsinki), Pirita Frigren (University of Jyvaskylä), Olli Turunen (University of Helsinki), and Jeremy Land (Georgia State University). We also have a large international Board of Experts that will be announced on the conference webpage later. More information can be obtained from Jari Eloranta: .