Fourth International Conference on the History of Transport, Traffic and Mobility

The International Association for the History of Transport, Traffic and Mobility (T2M) invites proposals for papers to be presented at the Fourth International Conference on the History of Transport, Traffic and Mobility, to be held in Paris and Marne-la-Vallée, France on 28th September-1st October 2006.

Papers may address any aspect of the social, cultural, economic, technological, ecological and political history of transport, traffic and mobility. However, we encourage the submission of proposals relating to the conference theme: History, Safety and Sustainable Mobility.

The interplay between safety and sustainability opens up important lines of historical inquiry. In what ways do the values of safety and sustainability shape the expectations of mobility users, producers and regulators? For example, beginning in the 1970s, the resurgence of the tram, in opposition to the automobile, in urban centers initiated a series of intense debates. In France, for example, several social science research projects (RATP Réseau 2000, Institut pour la Ville en Mouvement, etc) were established to address the debate. It is hoped that this theme will generate new objects and methods of inquiry in the emerging field of mobility history.

Such a broad subject suggests the value of interdisciplinary approaches. Relevant contributions from cultural geographers, sociologists, anthropologists, economists, and other scholars who do not define themselves as historians are therefore very welcome, as well as those from historians who are not specialists in T2M. Participants are encouraged, though not required, to organize panels on this or any other theme. A panel consists of a chair and normally up to three speakers; no commentator is required. We encourage transnational, comparative and transmodal approaches, and welcome proposals exploring theoretical or methodological issues as well as those of a more empirical nature. We especially invite recent entrants to the profession and doctoral students to submit proposals.

This conference will be hosted by Centre d’Histoire Sociale du XXe siècle, University Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne, and the Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées. The conference language is English and French, all the working panels should be in English.The deadline for abstracts and a short cv (max. 1 page each; Word or rich text format only) is 31 March 2006. Send proposals to: submissions@t2m.org.This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Notification of acceptance will be sent by 30 April 2006. The full text of papers accepted must be submitted by 15 July 2006 if they are to be included on the conference CD-ROM sent in advance to all participants and if they are to be eligible for T2M Awards. All participants are absolutly required to register before the 1st September, in order to secure the conference programme.

For enquiries about the programme, please contact Mathieu Flonneau, Université Paris I, ( Mathieu.Flonneau@univ-Paris1.fr ) and Vincent Guigueno, Ecole nationale des Ponts et Chaussées ( vincent.guigueno@m4x.org ). For information about local arrangements please contact vincent.guigueno@m4x.org.