Agenda
Posthumus Summer School 2026 ‘Crises and History’: Theme and dates announced – deadline registration 1 June 2026
After two successful previous editions, the N.W. Posthumus Institute will once more offer the Posthumus Summer School on ‘Crises and History’ on 6-10 July 2026.
Crises are not a new phenomenon: past societies also faced them. How these societies coped with crises, or why they failed to do so, is a topic that increasingly draws attention from historians. During this one-week summer school students acquire the knowledge and skills to develop their own research ideas on this theme and select and use the methods and sources to carry out the research. The Summer School approaches crises as multi-faceted processes that important social and economic aspects (such as the unequal impact on employment or wealth or the phenomenon of scapegoating specific social groups), but also political elements (consider the relation between crises and political stability or regime type) and cultural aspects (for example the role of religion in the handling of crises or the way in which they are remembered).
At the end of this one-week course (valued at 2-3 EC), the students will have a thorough insight in the central debates, theories and concepts related to the theme of the summer school, have developed a research idea contributing to these debates and applying appropriate theories and concepts, and will be able to select and use suitable methods and sources to carry out this research.
Participation is free of charge; the course will start if at least 5 students will be participating. Participants should register ultimately by 1 June 2026.
