This joint conference, organised by the German Association for British Studies (AGF) and the Institute for Social Movements (ISB/ISM) at Ruhr University Bochum, seeks to explore and discuss the emergence and development of freedom and democracy in Great Britain over several centuries, from the Magna Carta in the thirteenth century to the diverse forms of democracy found in the twenty-first century. It considers related political ideas and concepts, social movements and emancipatory aspirations, as well as interpretations and horizons of historical memory as received in different parts of the European continent. These discussions are intended to lay the groundwork for sustained comparisons of the reception of British ideas of freedom and democracy in continental Europe. Since the British Empire and the subsequent Commonwealth are essential to understanding large parts of British history, the conference also welcomes submissions that examine freedom and democracy in Britain and their European reception through the lens of the British Empire and the Commonwealth. The discussions will centre on two fundamental questions: What ideas of freedom and popular sovereignty developed in Britain over time? Which ideas fostered democratic developments and the establishment of liberal democracy as a form of government, society, and way of life in other parts of Europe?
The conference traces the breakthroughs and turning points in the democratisation of Great Britain and Europe, and thus the long-term establishment of modern democracy in the wake of a series of upheavals that included not only successes but also numerous failures. Diachronic and synchronic, inclusive and problem-oriented comparisons (following Charles Tilly, Jürgen Kocka et al.) of various revolutions and reform movements in Great Britain, Germany, and other European countries are intended to capture the complexity and ambivalence of ideas of freedom and of democratic development. Such comparisons may open up new perspectives on the history of democracy up to the present day. Furthermore, the struggles over memory of past actors, and of the freedom and democracy movements they supported, may motivate us to take action against today’s enemies and opponents of democracy in order to prevent its potential erosion and slow “death” (Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt).
Please submit an abstract of up to 300 words, including a title and a brief description of the proposed paper, together with a short CV (no longer than one page). The submission should include your name, institutional affiliation, and contact details. In the spirit of interdisciplinarity, we welcome contributions from the fields of history, political science, law, and the social sciences, as well as from related disciplines. Presentations by early career researchers are particularly welcome. Please send your proposals by 30 April 2026 to: Birgit Bublies-Godau, M.A., birgit.bublies-godau@rub.de, Dr Norbert Fabian, nobfabian@t-online.de, and Dr Mathis Gronau, mathis.gronau@rub.de.
The organising institutions aim to reimburse speakers in full for their travel and accommodation expenses. Publication of the conference contributions as proceedings is planned at a later stage.
Birgit Bublies-Godau, M.A., birgit.bublies-godau@rub.de, Dr Norbert Fabian, nobfabian@t-online.de, and Dr Mathis Gronau, mathis.gronau@rub.de.