South Asia Economic History Workshop 2021

South Asia Through a Global Lens

Call for Applications

Contact Information:

s.morshed@lse.ac.uk (Safya Morshed); or

a.p.raman@lse.ac.uk (Alka Raman)

We are now accepting applications for the annual South Asia Economic History Workshop hosted by the Economic History Department at the London School of Economics. The day long workshop is scheduled to be held online via Zoom on Friday 14th May 2021. The theme of the workshop this year is ‘South Asia through a Global Lens,’ where we hope to reconnect South Asian economic history with global academic debates. This year, the workshop will additionally include a panel discussion between four eminent economic historians of South Asia who will reflect upon the future of the field and the significance of the region in understanding global economic development. A summary of the theme of the workshop and the panel discussion can be found below. 

This event will be the third instalment of the South Asia Economic History Workshop series hosted by the Economic History Department at the LSE and organised by its PhD students. The primary goal of this annual series is to field new research in South Asian economic history and encourage collaboration amongst academics focused on the region. This year, we are taking advantage of the increased usage of online platforms to host an online workshop that allows South Asian economic historians from around the world to join a discussion on the future of the field and its place in global economic history. 

To apply, please complete the form (below) by Friday 2nd April 2021. If there are any questions regarding the workshop or applications, please contact Safya Morshed at s.morshed@lse.ac.uk or Alka Raman at a.p.raman@lse.ac.uk

Theme Description: South Asia from a Global Lens 

South Asia has been connected to the rest of the world via trade and cultural exchange since ancient times. Current historiography within Economic and Global History, however, reflects this connection only partially, with a disproportionately high emphasis on the colonial encounter in the subcontinent. Important aspects of South Asian economic history remain disconnected from mainstream economic and global economic history debates. Like many other fields of study, South Asian economic history suffers from the lack of a meaningful discourse between Economics, History and other related disciplines and methodologies.

The purpose of this workshop is to facilitate bridges between these intellectual divides. The workshop aims to reconnect South Asia with mainstream debates in Economic and Global History across historical periods and to highlight the rich and influential South Asian history of global engagement. The workshop also aims to facilitate a dialogue between academics from a variety of disciplinary backgrounds and to contribute to the body of knowledge related to South Asia and global economic history. It aspires to throw light on pathways for the future via an exchange of ideas on how South Asia may rejoin the global debates in world economic history.

Panel Discussion: 

Reconnecting South Asia with Global Economic History- Challenges and the way ahead

This year, the workshop will host a panel discussion on the future of South Asian Economic History and its importance in understanding global development, as well as its influence on world development thus far. For this discussion, we have invited four eminent scholars in the field of economic history to share their views. We request our applicants and attendees to please submit any questions they would like to be discussed during the panel discussion. 

We are very happy to have the following academics participate as panellists: