History and theory are mutually constitutive. Not only are many historians theorists, but theory does not emerge in a vacuum – it arises from somewhere and someplace, and that place is history. Recent years have seen renewed interest in historically informed International Relations (IR) scholarship, as well as a turn to historical materials in the development of IR theory. Yet there is little reflection within IR about what type of history is used – and sometimes abused – by theorists.

The colloquium is intended for PhD students who are working at the nexus of history, theory and IR. The colloquium has four main sessions: ‘philosophies of history’; ‘historicising theory’; ‘reading theory historically’; and ‘theorizing history’. Each of the sessions is based on readings that will be circulated in advance. There will be a chance to exchange ideas and gain practical insights from faculty who work at the cutting edge of these issues. There will also be a session intended to ‘workshop’ PhD projects and an evening talk by an academic working on the relationship between theory and history.

Thanks to funding from the LSE Centre for International Studies|, attendance at the workshop is free. Travel costs and a conference dinner will also be covered. Participants are generally expected to find their own accommodation, although in special cases (e.g. financial hardship), additional funds may be available.

Timetable: Day One

Saturday 20th June 2015

10.00-11.30: Introduction: Tarak Barkawi, George Lawson, James Morrison (LSE)

11.30-1.00: Session I: Kim Hutchings (Queen Mary), ‘Philosophies of history’

1.00-2.30: Lunch

2.30-4.00: Session II: Alex Anievas (Cambridge), ‘Historicizing theory’

4.00-4.15: Break

4.15-6.00: Julian Go (Boston), ‘Patterns of Empire’

6.00 – drinks and dinner

Timetable: Day Two

Sunday 21st June 2015

9.30-11.00: Session III: Patricia Owens (Sussex), ‘Reading theory historically’

11.00-11.15: Break

11.15-12.45: Session IV: Martin Bayly (LSE), ‘Theorizing history’

12.45-2.00: Lunch

2.00-4.00: Concluding session: Tarak Barkawi, George Lawson, James Morrison (LSE)

Participation

If you are interested in participating in the colloquium, please write to George Lawson (g.lawson@lse.ac.uk|) by Friday 15th May explaining (in 2-3 paragraphs) why the colloquium is of interest and what you hope to get out of it. Please note that we can only offer places to 15 students.