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Call for papers Conference Local elites and the modernisation of local government, 1850-1940. September 21-23, 2005 Closing date proposals: December 1, 2004 Groningen University, the Netherlands In this conference we want to investigate the impact of urbanisation and industrialisation on local elites between 1850 and 1940. The modernisation of the city, caused by industrialisation and leading to urbanisation and eventually suburbanisation, not only deeply affected local government, but also profoundly changed social relations in the city. The challenges of modernity with its emphasis on technology and the implementation of knowledge (including social sciences), the exigencies of governing metropolis- megalopolis, the emergence of democracy and mass politics at the local level demanded new forms of government, in which the local elite was to take the lead. In many cities in Europe and Northern-America the composition of the social and political local elite changed. 'Old elites' gradually or suddenly were replaced by 'new elites', whilst elsewhere they succeeded to retain their sometimes centuries-old position in local government. The mechanisms of change differed from city to city. Newcomers could mix with the old elite, by marriage, by business partnerships etc. Political change could lead to a new local regime, with the old elite withdrawing from public life. Local elites could absorb representatives from neighbouring elites. Political newcomers like socialists, radical-liberals, Christian-democrats could form new sub-elites. Upward social mobility and the expansion of local administration could lead to the entrance of new professionals and/or bourgeois representatives into the local elite. Depending on the papers submitted, the conference may comprise sessions on: Elites, industrialisation, urbanisation and knowledge ========================================= Local elites and industrialisation: Local elites and urbanisation Local elites and the introduction of modern knowledge- based administration Elites and politics ============== The politics of local elites: Local elites as mediators in modern society Local elites and socio-economic change Local elites and democracy Change in elites ============= The persistence of nobility: New elites: bourgeois, working class, professionals The position of elites ================ Networks of elites: old, new, cultural, social, political The relation between local, regional and national elites International elites We invite you to submit a paper-proposal of max. 500 words, before December 1, 2004. The conference will be co-hosted by the Research School for the Study of the Humanities of the Rijksuniversiteit Groningen and the NWO-research-project Democracy, policy, knowledge, local government in transition 1870-1940. Accommodation will be provided. You can submit your paper proposal to Dr D.J. Wolffram, email: d.j.wolffram@let.rug.nl For more information see: http://www.rug.nl/grssh/research/researchgroups/DPK/
 Humanities & Social Sciences Online 
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