On Saturday, 23 May 2026, the 2nd Sociohistorical Workshop will be held at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Osijek. The workshop is intended primarily for graduate students of history and doctoral students in history.
The title of this year’s workshop is What Is Theory For?. Although historians often emphasise the primacy of sources and empirical research, every historical interpretation also rests on certain theoretical assumptions, whether explicitly formulated or implicitly present in the way research questions are posed and sources are analysed. It is therefore understandable that the question of the role of theory in historiography regularly re-emerges, and there are indeed many issues that remain worth discussing. To what extent is a theoretical framework necessary for historical research? How does theory influence the way we formulate research questions? What impact does theory have on the interpretation of historical sources? Participants are invited to prepare 15-minute presentations in which they will briefly present the theoretical and methodological models they apply in their own graduate and doctoral theses in modern and contemporary history. Each presentation will be followed by a discussion. Presentations may also include broader reflections on the role of theory in historiography, the relationship between empirical research and theoretical frameworks, as well as the challenges of applying them in specific research projects. Presentations on research in progress that raise questions or uncertainties related to the application of theoretical approaches are particularly encouraged.
The intention is to encourage discussion about the necessity of theoretical literacy among historians, as well as to highlight the common challenges they face when attempting to select appropriate theoretical models for their own research. The workshop also aims to create a stimulating space for discussion among early-career researchers about the role of theory in historical research and for the exchange of experiences in writing graduate and doctoral theses.
The deadline for workshop applications is 20 April 2026.
Applications should be submitted via the Google Form (link to the form). The workshop is scheduled to begin at 11:00 a.m. and will conclude in the afternoon. The programme will be published after the application deadline. All workshop participants will receive certificates of participation. Participation in the workshop is free of charge, but the organisers do not cover participants’ travel and accommodation expenses.
The workshop is organised by the Department of History of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Osijek and the Doctoral Study Programme in Modern and Contemporary Croatian History in European and Global Context at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb. Any questions regarding the workshop may be sent to the workshop coordinator, Assistant Professor Luka Pejić, PhD, at: lpejic@ffos.hr.
