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Global developments and local specificities in the history of medicine and health

The European Association for the History of Medicine and Health (EAHMH) invites submissions for its bi-annual meeting in Heidelberg, 3-6 September 2009. The general theme of the meeting — “Global Developments and Local Specificities in the History of Medicine and Health” — includes issues like: the impact of globalisation processes (political, economic, means of communication etc.) on local […]

The European Association for the History of Medicine and Health (EAHMH) invites submissions for its bi-annual meeting in Heidelberg, 3-6 September 2009. The general theme of the meeting — “Global Developments and Local Specificities in the History of Medicine and Health” — includes issues like:

  • the impact of globalisation processes (political, economic, means of communication etc.) on local ideas and practices in medicine
  • the spread of local medical ideas, practices, as well as materials (remedies, instruments, etc.) to broader national and international contexts (“travelling knowledge”)
  • processes such as the hybridisation of “local” and “global” (or more hegemonic) concepts or practices
  • the invention of (supposed) local traditions and their relations to previously transferred / migrated knowledge or practices (e.g. newly emerging “traditional medicine” in South America modelled on “alternative medicine” in Europe, or on Asian “medical systems”)
  • the interrelations between colonial powers and colonies, or former colonial powers and former colonies in the realms of medicine and public health
  • linguistic and cultural translations/adaptations of “foreign” medical concepts and practices
  • the shifting perceptions about what constitutes the centre and what the periphery of certain developments, like “innovations”
  • physicians as (global) travellers.

You can send in single paper proposals as well as proposals for sessions including at least three papers (particularly international panels; and you don’t need to be a ‘European’ to attend :-). Submit a one-page abstract for each presentation to marie.c.nelson@liu.se with a copy to volker.roelcke@histor.med.uni-giessen.de no later than 31 January, 2009. More info on www.eahmh.net soonish.