Dominic Sachsenmaier

Global History

Thinking Globally About HistoryTerminological Options

• World History• Transnational History• International History• Histoire Croisee• Global History

• Definition of „global history“ - Through Term - Through Usage of Term

Global History - Facets

• Growing interest in bordercrossing themes

• Nation not as given container of the past

• Research on flows, exchanges & mutual reactions

• Beyond Area Studies• Critical of Eurocentrism

Global HistoryImportant Research Fields in the US

• History of Health and the Environment• Maritime History• History of International Organizations• Global Intellectual History• Cultural History

– Consumerism, Elite Culture, Faculty Club Culture• Economic History

– Eg history of Commodities • Social History

– New perspectives on migration• Globalizing National History

Global HistoryGlobal HistoryA Global Research Community?A Global Research Community?

International Hierarchies

Communication Gaps

Local Differences

Research Landscapes of Global HistoryFacets and Problems (I)

A Global Field?– Much global exchange of

concepts– Translations– Similar Methodologies

• Yet: Global History is not uniform &universal– Local Perspectives still matter –

Factors:• Intellectual Traditions• Department structures• Modes of Historical Memory• Funding sources

Hierarchies of KnowledgeHierarchies of Knowledge

Continued Dominance Continued Dominance Of Of

Anglo-AmericanAnglo-AmericanWorldWorld

Sociologies of KnowledgeSociologies of KnowledgeAre not GlobalAre not Global

For example: WesternFor example: WesternScholarship often IgnoresScholarship often Ignores

Chinese ResearchChinese Research

Chinese Research Cannot Ignore Western ScholarshipChinese Research Cannot Ignore Western Scholarship

Hierarchies of KnowledgeHierarchies of Knowledge

• Most Western Historians are Mono-Cultural by Training

• Not outside the West

• Global Historical Research Needs to Become More Balanced

• Necessity of Dialogical Approach

• Linking beyond Sophia

Global History in US Historiography

US History Departments: Area ExpertiseUS-Institutions

Western Europe

Eastern Europe

North America

Non-Western

US HistoriographyStructural and Conceptual Changes

Structural • Widening role of the

area studies – Motivated by global interests

• Pluralization of US campuses– Expansion of student and

faculty body – Growing diversity

• Influence of civil rights movement

Conceptual• Critiques of „white national

history“– Whose history?– Emphasis on minorities

• Pressure on world history– Against Eurocentrism& „Western civilization courses“

• Role of postmodernism – Doubts about concepts such

as „progress“ or „modernity“

US: Diversifying Student Body

Berkeley UniversityUndergraduate Student Body

1983 2007

White

Other

Duke UniversityStudent Body 1960 & 2008

1960 2008

US HistoriographyStructural and Conceptual Changes

Structural • Widening role of the

area studies – Motivated by global interests

• Pluralization of US campuses– Expansion of student and

faculty body – Growing diversity

• Influence of civil rights movement

Conceptual• Critiques of „white national

history“– Whose history?– Emphasis on minorities

• Pressure on world history– Against Eurocentrism& „Western civilization courses“

• Role of postmodernism – Doubts about concepts such

as „progress“ or „modernity“

German Historiography

German History DepartmentsArea Expertise

Western EuropeEastern EuropeNorth AmericaRest

Europe-Centered Historiography Continuities and Changes

Continuities - Factors• European historio-

graphical traditions• Western orientation

of postwar scholars• Primacy of national

problems• Few migrants among

faculty

Fields of Change• History of Migration • Colonial History

– Emphasis on agency• European History

– New global contexts• Collaboration with

the area studies– Foundation policies

Chinese HistoriographyArea Expertise

Key Facets of Global History in China

- Since early 20th century: high degree of global consciousness in Chinese historiography- World History and Chinese History were mainly

separated from each other- New orientations during past 20 years

- Influence of modernization paradigms- Emphasis on “Chinese Model”- Greater concern for global voice

- Academic transformations- Strong growth of university sector

Recent Developments in China

Conceptual• Strong role of

modernization paradigms

• Commitment to idea of a Chinese model

• Search for a Chinese view of world history

• Globalization as enhancement of nation

Entangled Factors• Intellectual politics &

personal experiences

• Desire for recognition• Professionalization of

academia• Changing global

academic landscapes• Growth of area studies

Global History, Globally? Potentials of Transnational Collaboration

• Sustained networks of collaboration

• New forms of interdisciplinary collaboration

• Dialogues with other professional realms

• Voice in emerging global/transnational public spheres

Teaching Global HistoryTeaching Global HistoryGeneral ObjectivesGeneral Objectives

Break Through Current Hierarchies of KnowledgeAwaken Interest for Different Intellectual PositionsEmphasize local specificities but avoid exocticizing areas such as ChinaMulti-Perspectivity and Self-Reflexivity