Labor and Capital in U.S. History

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February 11-12, 2022
Online & at Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany

2022 Annual Meeting of the Historians in the German Association of American Studies (DGfA)

Dear colleagues,

As you can imagine, planning for the 2022 Annual Meeting of the Historians in the German Association of American Studies (DGfA) has been difficult because of the ongoing pandemic. To provide the best possible experience under the circumstances, we have decided to move the conference “Labor and Capital in U.S. History” to a “digital plus” format. This means that all panels will take place online, with a roundtable discussion planned to take place in person in Mainz.

The DGfA conference will take place February 11–12, 2022, virtually via Zoom and Gather.

The transnational turn has introduced significant new perspectives on the history of labor and capitalism in the United States. While the state remains an important object of analysis, decentering the nation in labor history provides additional lenses that focus on circulations, interactions, and connections below or beyond the nation-state. According to Ian Tyrell, they focus attention on exchanges across national boundaries, the impact of asymmetrical power exerted by one nation, and networks of relations not contained by nation-states. In questioning a coherent, all-encompassing national narrative, the voices and visions of people and groups who have been marginalized in the context of a nationalist myopia are reclaimed.

This conference brings together scholars working on labor and capital in U.S. history for virtual panels.

Attendance is free of charge. Register for this two-day Zoom event via Eventbrite:
www.eventbrite.com/e/conference-labor-andcapital-in-us-history-tickets-243453605287

A Zoom link will be available via the Eventbrite registration.

Conference Program

Schedule (all of the times are given in Central European Time):

Friday, February 11, 2022

11:00–11:30 Conference Opening

11:30–13:00 Panel I: Normalizing Neoliberalism

13:00–14:00 Break

14:00–15:00 Gather I: Doctoral Poster Presentation and Organization Presentation

15:00–16:30 Panel II: Socialism and Marxism

16:30–17:15 Break

17:15–18:30 Keynote I, David Roediger “Is the US a Middle Class Nation? Past and Present”

Saturday, February 12, 2022

9:30–10:00 Welcome and Housekeeping

10:00–11:30 Roundtable: Natalie Rauscher, Axel Jansen, Jan Logemann, Dirk Hoerder

11:30–13:00 Panel III: Internationalism, Transnationalism, and Empire

13:00–14:00 Break

14:00–15:00 Gather II: Doctoral Poster Presentation and Organization Presentation

15:00–17:00 Panel IV: Labor Law and Labor Rights

17:00–17:15 Break

17:15–18:30 Keynote II, Elizabeth Faue, “Fighting for It Under a Different Name’: Collaboration and Conflict, Labor and the New Social Movements”

18:30–20:00 Business Meeting (DGfA/GAAS members only)