The aim of this conference is to focus on the relationships between the four nations of the British Isles and the rest of Europe in order to examine the nature of those connections and to track the changes and continuities over time. Although the historical roots of this interdependency can be traced back even further, this conference will begin with the Glorious Revolution of 1688 (which brought William of Orange and his European interests to the British monarchical and political stage in a dramatic fashion) and will end with the uncertainties of the present day.
There will be discussion of the complex relationships between the Continent and the British Isles in the fields of history, literature, folklore, and material culture. Critical areas of connection are evident in the intellectual exchanges of the Enlightenment, European Christendom, the mechanization and modernization of industry, the rise of urban metropolises, pan-European economic exchange, the spread of political theories from democracy to communism to fascism, the competing imperial ambitions of nations, and the continued involvement in myriad wars throughout the last three centuries. All of these connections will provide opportunities to explore the history of European interdependence.
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This is an interdisciplinary graduate student conference sponsored by the Nanovic Institute for European Studies. Additional support has been provided by the Graduate School, the Keough-Naughton Institute for Irish Studies, and the Department of English.