CALL FOR PAPERS: Cross-Border Regions in History – IV ISRH Global Conference

CALL FOR PAPERS, submitting time extended to 26^th January 2026

The International Society for Regional History (ISRH) invites scholars to submit abstracts for the IV ISRH Global Conference, Cross-Border Regions in History, to be held in September 2026 in Seinäjoki, Finland. The exact dates are 22–24 September 2026.

Abstract Submission

Please submit your abstract (300–500 words) and a brief biography (150 words) by 26th January 2026. Notifications of acceptance will be sent by 1 March 2026. Presentations should be 20 minutes in length, and we encourage interdisciplinary approaches that explore border histories in regional contexts from a wide range.

Important Dates

Abstract Submission Deadline: 26th January 2026

Notification of Acceptance: 1 March 2026

Conference Dates: 22–24 September 2026

Read more, submit abstract, register and pay: 2026 Conference - ISRH

More information: Prof. Sulevi Riukulehto, sulevi.riukulehto [at] helsinki.fi (sulevi[dot]riukulehto[at]helsinki[dot]fi), +358 50 574 4041

Sub-themes

The conference will be organised around, but not restricted to, the following sub-themes:

1. Legacies of Historical Borders

Borders are dynamic, often leaving long-lasting impacts on regions and societies well after they have been altered or erased. This sub-theme explores the enduring legacies of historical borders, examining how past political, social and economic divisions continue to shape contemporary borderscapes. We invite papers that focus on the lasting effects of historical borders on regionality, cultural narratives and political structures. How do the boundaries of the past continue to influence territorial disputes, social inequalities or community relationships today? We are especially interested in examining how historical borders have left persistent legacies across different historical periods, creating complex interactions that transcend national or temporal boundaries.

2. The Conceptual Variations of a Border Vocabulary

The language surrounding borders has evolved significantly over time, shaped by political, social and cultural contexts. This sub-theme invites papers that explore how terms like “frontier”, “border”, and “boundary” have been defined and used across different historical periods and geographical regions. In addition to examining how the terms have been influenced by geopolitical shifts, colonialism, social movements and legal changes, we also encourage a broader exploration of the ways in which different languages and cultures frame concepts of borders. Each language carries its own perspectives, wisdom and understandings of boundaries, reflecting diverse worldviews and cultural contexts. Papers should consider how linguistic variations highlight the fluidity of political and territorial identities and explore how border terminology functions as both a tool for division and integration.

3. Borders, Ruralities and Micro-spatiality

Borders often evoke images of urban spaces divided along geopolitical lines, yet their impact on rural regions and communities is equally significant. This sub-theme explores how historical and contemporary borders have shaped rural communities, economies and cultures. Papers may investigate how rural areas along borders have navigated shifting territorial regimes, the economic consequences of border policies on agriculture, trade and services, such as tourism, and the social dynamics of rural populations in borderlands. How have rural communities, often geographically remote from political centres, experienced and reacted to borders in terms of identity, migration and cultural exchange? We invite contributions that examine the interaction of borders with rural landscapes, focusing on the intersection of social, political, ecological and economic factors in border regions.

4. Borders, Cross-Borders and the Arts

Art crosses and breaks boundaries, sometimes it also sets and maintains them. In both cases, areas near and across borders are of particular interest. Throughout history, art has crossed many borders. It has moved with people from place to place and from country to country. Art has also played a key role as a tool for integration and crossing social boundaries. Art is about interaction and shared experiences. It has been used to maintain and create different identities and groups, as well as professional and social connections. On the other hand, art has also been used as an element to create images of enmity, boundaries and exclusion between people, social groups, religions and regions. In this subgroup, boundaries and their transgressions are understood in a broad sense. Borders can be geographical, political and social; they can occur bodily or economically or between the arts, religions, convictions or religious communities. The presentations may consider, for example, the following: What kinds of boundaries is art involved with? What is the role of art in border crossing? Which boundaries in art are difficult to cross, and why?

5. Non-Human Border Crossing

Throughout history, natural elements such as deserts, wilderness, grasslands and waterways have created links between regions, countries and communities. The connections have historically been both cooperative and confrontational, as empires, nation states and local communities have sought in different ways to regulate and control movement across their porous borders. However, it is worth noting that not only humans but also non-human organisms, including animals, plants and micro-organisms, have moved across human-imposed boundaries, despite human attempts to prevent such non-human migrations. This sub-theme will look at the different ways in which living organisms have challenged human will, creating connections between cross-border regions that are not always expected to be easily connected. In particular, the focus is on the agency of non-human organisms: how their behaviours or biological processes have tangible effects on the human world, including the reconfiguration of regional connections, ecological zones and human-environment interactions. This sub-theme explores the ways in which non-human entities challenge political borders, fostering unexpected connections between cross-border regions.

6. Histories of Cross-Border Macro-Regions

International networks have become increasingly complex, requiring administrative units that reflect existing economic and social realities. In Europe, more than 150 such regions have been identified, largely influenced by the rise of new regionalism movements. Phenomena such as globalisation and international business have also drawn attention to cross-border macro-regions, which function at the level of continents or free trade areas. The regions are often the product of non-governmental agencies and institutions. Some of them may not have a historical identity, even though they can be meaningfully defined through specific research criteria. This sub-theme invites papers that explore the historical development and the conceptualisation of macro-regions, examining whether they are truly “artificial”, or if their origins are rooted in deeper historical, cultural or geographical processes. Are these macro-regions a recent phenomenon, or do they have historical precedents defined by climate, vegetation zones, language, religion or political decision making – such as colonial empires or trade alliances? This sub-theme seeks to foster a cross-fertilisation between regional studies and historical scholarship, exploring how historical processes have shaped and continue to influence the development of macro-regions today.

7. Border Regions as Experiential Spaces

Borders divide and separate, influencing the lives and opportunities of those living in border regions. While a border can be crossed, it remains a line on the map, marked on the land and embedded in people’s minds and memories. Border closures disrupt kinship ties, local relationships and regional trade, forcing residents to adapt to the realities of border control over time. Despite shared everyday experiences, life on both sides of a border is marked by difference. A border reveals how external control shapes the daily lives of its residents, creating both shared and distinct realities. The residents of a border region may benefit from some flexibility in their identities.

8. Border Histories of Indigenous Peoples and Minorities

The demarcating and drawing of borders by the majority population and as a result of colonisation have fragmented territories and affected the lives of indigenous peoples and various minorities – including ethnic, religious and sexual minorities – around the world throughout history. On the one hand, border demarcations and border closures have made it more difficult to, for example, engage in livelihoods and maintain culture and family ties. On the other hand, demarcations have given rise to resistance and diverse border crossings. Crossing borders may have been empowering and given room for identity work. We welcome presentations that examine lived experiences and memories of borders and their crossings from the perspectives of indigenous peoples and minorities. In what ways have the borders that cut through communities shaped material culture and lifestyles on different sides of the border? How have kinship and family connections evolved across borders? What impact have borders had on language development and language histories? What forms of resistance have border policies given rise to, and in what ways could crossing a border have been a liberating experience?