Call for Papers: Frost, Ice, and Snow: Cold Climate in Russian History
Deadline: 30 June 2011
04.05.2011
Conveners: Julia Herzberg (Rachel Carson Center München), PD Dr. Andreas Renner (Universität Tübingen), Prof. Dr. Klaus Gestwa (Universität Tübingen)
Russia was and remains especially associated with cold. Not only do terms from recent history – like “Cold War” and “thaw” – stand metonymically for Russia and the Soviet Union. The discourses about the Russian cold stem from existential experiences. Due to its geographical location, extreme weather influences reign in Russia. In Russia and the Soviet Union, the cold was a constant cultural challenge, a phenomenon that influenced actions, everyday experiences, and mentalities, and determined both external and self-perceptions.
Focusing on the factor of climate, this conference will discuss and connect new approaches to Russian environmental history. The goal of the conference is to explore the relevance of environmental historical research questions for Russian history on the basis of climatic conditions. Furthermore, the conference will establish a network of colleagues who work on the environmental history of Russia and the Soviet Union.
Application deadline is 30 June 2011.
Call for papers (English) (pdf, 196 KB)
Call for papers (Russian) (pdf, 301 KB)