[H-verkko] CFP: Biographies of Politicians in Modern European History

[agricola at utu.fi]

Agricolan artikkelipyyntöihin on lähetetty uusi ilmoitus:
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Biographies of Politicians in Modern European History
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CFP: Auto/Biographies of Politicians in Modern European History
Cluster, planned by Tiina Kinnunen, Kirsti Niskanen, Anneke Ribberink, Angelika
Schaser in 2014/15


To be published in the European Journal of Life Writing (EJLW) http://ejlw.eu
Politicians all over Europe used and use to write about their lives. Classical
autobiographies written by politicians themselves (and their co-authors or
ghost-writers) are published widely. Often the autobiographers intend to
contribute to political and historical analyses. Life writing has changed and
diversified rapidly during the 20th century, taking place not only in hard copy,
but in many different media, like radio, film, television, blogs, and other new
social media. So it seems a good moment to look how the genre of autobiography
of politicians has changed during the 20th century.
Related to this field of autobiographical writing, we are looking for articles
which raise the question and discuss how politicians and leaders of social
movements position themselves in public and create their professional and
political identity. In this regard, the following questions can be addressed: 
What kind of social and cultural repertoires were presented to be necessary for
making a political career during the 20th century? Which interactions were set
in motion between autobiographical narratives and their readers? How is gender
created, represented or ignored in these texts? Which similarities and
differences can be found in the autobiographical narratives between different
political systems, European states, male and female politicians, politicians of
different social class, religion, and age? What tensions become apparent between
political traditionalism, collectivism, and individuality?

However, not do only politicians publish about their lives, but also academics
and non-academics, like journalists, publish widely on the lives of politicians.
Related to the academic field, we welcome articles that discuss how historians
and political scientists use the autobiographies of politicians. Do scholarly
biographers use them as “authentic sources”, or as “scientific texts”,
written by experts, or do they seek for identity constructions in and political
intentions behind these autobiographical texts? What is the function of
biographical articles and books on politicians in modern historiography?
We welcome articles that discuss the cultural patterns and practices used by
autobiographers, on the one hand, and by biographers, on the other hand, as
well  as narrative structures and strategies that have been adopted in both
genres. How were politicians represented by historians and other biographers,
included journalists? What does a seemingly gender neutral way to write history
mean in a field as politics, which is marked by a pronounced gendered character?
Does this way of describing politics make it more difficult for women (and other
minorities in the political field) to walk their way to top positions?

Please submit a 250-word abstract in English and a short biographical note by
May 15, 2014 to Dr. Monica Soeting, journal manager,  email: 
m.soeting at let.vu.nl ,
Please include your name, institutional affiliation, and email address. If
selected, you will be asked by  June 15  to write an article of no more than
7,000 words , which will go through a peer-review process in order to be
published. We cannot guarantee the publication of all articles from the selected
abstracts. The dead line of the articles is December 15, 2014.

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Ilmoituksen lähetti: Tiina Kinnunen <tiina.kinnunen at uef.fi>
Ilmoitus vanhentuu: 16.5.2014
Lisätietoja WWW-osoitteesta: http://ejlw.eu