Joanna Innes, de Somerville College, Oxford, et professeure invitée à l’EHESS, présentera sa communication “What price the long eighteenth century? Costs and benefits of this periodization.” le jeudi 31 janvier 2019 de 17h30 à 19h. Maison de la Recherche, 28 rue Serpente, Paris 6e , salle D421

Abstract:

In this talk I will reflect on a concept that has played an important part in organising thinking about British history since the 1980s: the concept of the ‘long eighteenth century’. I will explore how and speculate about why the phrase caught on. It now figures in the titles of many publications, and in the text of still more; it plays a part in determining how teaching is organised and research projects are conceptualised. It is associated with a very influential set of paradigms, including the ‘fiscal-military state’, the formation of British identity; enlightenment and politeness. Because it has important intellectual and practical effects, it’s important that we should reflect on its uses and limitations. I will share my thoughts on these, with a view to stimulating more general discussion. I am particularly concerned with the effects this concept has had in practice – perhaps not necessarily, but in practice – on how we think about early nineteenth-century British history, but I’d encourage those attending to engage with these questions from their own research and teaching perspectives.

Discutant : Jean-François Dunyach