The idea of Europe in the 18th century

broader European consciousness and the synchronous decline of older imagined communities such as Occident and Christianity. At the end of the eighteenth century, however, the age of "old Europe" based on dynasties, elite culture and balance of power politics was profoundly shaken, if not destroyed, by the French Revolution and the ensuing international instability. A heated discursive battle over the redefinition of Europe ensued.

Whereas older models of collective representations were thus crumbling and the nation had not yet attained its later quasi-hegemonic status as a marker of identity, Europe presented herself in a multifaceted variety of dresses, offering an attractive space of projection to contemporary witnesses appalled by the pace and scope of social, economic and political change.

The importance of the concept of Europe for the eighteenth century and what Koselleck had come to term "Sattelzeit" (1770-1830) remains, however, a much neglected aspect in scholarship. It is thus the aim of the present workshop to investigate eighteenth century ideas and images of Europe in all their pregnancy and complexity. Contributions on Europe's political, cultural,

anthropological, geographical, economical und sociological dimensions are

- Europe as international system and related peace-projects

- Europe as a civilisational entity in philosophies of history

- Europe's self-definition against internal and external Others

- Europe as cultural, religious, literary, linguistic space

- Europe in works of art and anthropomorphic representations

- Europe in eighteenth century maps, encyclopaedias and dictionaries

- Europe as a geographical entity and its frontiers

- Europe's place and role in the world (cultural transfer, colonialism and its

criticism)

- Europe's economical and commercial structures

The aim of the workshop is to foster the collaboration between doctoral candidates and young scholars working on Europe in the eighteenth century. The setting up of an international network with the aim of future collaboration is intended.

Expected are oral presentations of 30 minutes with ensuing discussions. The publication of the contributions in one of the series edited by the

Please send abstracts (max. 1000 words) together with a short CV and a

description of research interests no later than June 30 2007 to:

Forschungszentrum Europäische Aufklärung

z. Hd. Prof. Dr. B. Wehinger

Am Neuen Markt 9d

D-14467 Potsdam

Or by e-mail to eggel6@hei.unige.ch or wehinger@rz.uni-potsdam.de

For more information please consult our website under

www.fea-potsdam.de/tag_europa18.htm or contact Dominic Eggel at

eggel6@hei.unige.ch

Organisation:

Dominic Eggel, visiting fellow at the Forschungszentrum Europäische Aufklärung

Prof. Dr. Brunhilde Wehinger, Vice Director Forschungszentrum Europäische

Aufklärung