The Southeast European History Network (SEEHN) is designed as an
ongoing system of communications aimed to strengthen intraregional academic exchange in
the field of history research and teaching and to support the professional development of
young scholars. Its primary aim is thus to facilitate cooperation among young historians
from the region by initiating debate on history as a discipline of study and research at
universities in Southeastern Europe. Participants scrutinize dominant ideas and myths
concerning the definitions of national identity and culture in individual countries and
the regions as a whole. Further aims include improving teaching methodology and the
interpretation of sources at universities. In SEEHN junior historians can share their
experiences in using regional sources in their research and can collaborate to develop
active teaching methods that assist students in their research encourage them to assess
primary sources critically.
Needs statement
The network is an attempt to fill the gaps in scholarly communication,
which has existed in academia in Southeastern Europe since the fall of communism.
Universities no longer have the resources or the institutional infrastructure to foster
networks of scholars. Examples of international cooperation are often limited to a few
universities and individuals, leaving young scholars with little opportunity to network
with colleagues in neighbouring countries concerning developments in their discipline.
Although a number of bilateral partnerships and collaborative projects have been
established with universities in the West, less attention has been paid to rebuilding
local networks. SEEHN addresses this need in the most practical form, by bringing together
scholars from different countries of the region and providing them with a venue for
academic discussion and professional development.
The main objectives of the network are:
to facilitate the development of an ongoing intraregional network and exchange of
information, methodologies and resources;
to initiating joint research projects, teaching materials development involving
academics from Southeast European countries, including Turkey and Greece;
to discuss the specific issues and progressof history teaching, as well as
curriculum development at universities in Southeastern Europe, and to coordinate future
efforts relying on successful experiences;
to share research findings about the use of sources and their importance in rewriting
national histories;
to discuss active teaching methods, which encourage students to approach sources
critically;
to facilitate interaction between junior and senior Southeast European scholars, as well
as between historians from Southeastern and Western Europe;
to facilitate knowledge of, and access to, historical sources relevant to an
understanding of the region including:
-terminology, definitions, and ideological usage of geographical terms
-borders of and within Southeastern Europe in the framework of national identity-building
and reinterpretations of regional history
-reasons for and consequences of changing borders, changing concepts of the area, and
changing cultural influences
-the history of connections to Europe and between countries in Southeastern Europe in
contrast to dominant myths
-historical sources relevant to the region to be analysed in a supranational context
-interconnections between the histories and cultures of countries in Southeastern Europe
to compare approaches to national history in various countries and share research
findings about the use and interpretations of sources, taking into account their role in
rewriting national histories;
to channel the implementation of the results of discussions on specific issues of
history teaching and curriculum development at Southeastern European universities; and
to collect national data to be compared in regional meetings and used for cross-border
research projects.
