2nd Social History Workshop
What Is Theory For?
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Osijek
23 May 2026
On Saturday, 23 May 2026, the 2nd Social History 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 numerous issues that remain worthy of discussion. 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 preparing their own graduate and doctoral theses in modern and contemporary history. A discussion is planned after each presentation. 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 focusing on ongoing research and raising questions or uncertainties related to the application of theoretical approaches are particularly encouraged.
The intention is to encourage discussion on 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 environment for discussion among younger researchers about the role of theory in historical research and for the exchange of experiences in preparing 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. It 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, while 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 the European and Global Context at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb. All questions related to the workshop may be sent to the workshop leader, Asst. Prof. Luka Pejić, PhD, at: lpejic@ffos.hr.
