What is political history today? How has the practice of political history changed in the last few decades? What is the New Political History? How do political historians operate in 2010?
These appear to be the themes of a forthcoming issue of Perspectives on History, the magazine of the American Historical Association.
I hope that the issue contains an essay by Susan Pedersen, who wrote “What is Political History Now?” in What is History Now? edited by David Cannadine (New York : Palgrave Macmillan, 2002), 36-56.
Here is the AHA’s call for papers:
“Perspectives on History invites proposals by July 1, 2010, for articles for a theme issue focused on Political History Today.”
Readers interested in submitting articles that discuss different aspects of political history are invited to submit article proposals for consideration by the editorial board for possible publication in a theme issue of Perspectives on History that will be dedicated to explorations of the state of political history today.
The editorial board of Perspectives on History hopes that the essays in the thematically focused issue (expected to be published in May 2011), will provide an overview of different dimensions of political history in its various manifestations, such as diplomatic history, military history, administrative history, and the history of past politics, in teaching as well as of research and in the contexts of academia and public history. The topics of the essays need not be limited to these suggested rubrics, however, and prospective authors can suggest other topics that should, in their opinion, be considered for inclusion in the theme issue.
Prospective authors can consider including in their articles the challenges that teachers and researchers working in the field encounter, the current state and future prospects for the field of political history.
Article proposals, of about 300 to 600 words, may be e-mailed by July 1, 2010 to perspectives@historians.org or mailed to Perspectives on History, American Historical Association, 400 A Street, SE, Washington, DC 20003-3889.
Authors invited to send complete essays will be required to submit them by December 31, 2010.
The Past Speaks 