Technology, Power, Cultural Change
Summer School of Contemporary History: Technology, Power and Cultural Change
24–29 May 2026, Liberec, Czech Republic
The 20th century is often described as the century of mass ideologies and modern dictatorships, as well as two world wars and post-war European integration. However, it was also characterised by technological revolutions, mass production, and the advent of the automobile. Medical innovations altered the course and length of human life, and the invention of chemical fertilisers enabled intensive agriculture. Many of these inventions contributed to unprecedented environmental threats. The contemporary digital revolution is altering human cognitive and motor skills and threatening to disrupt the labour market.
The Summer School of Contemporary History brings together master’s and doctoral students to explore scenarios, methodologies, and case studies of key interactions between Technology, Power and Cultural Change. It is a collaboration between the Technical University of Liberec, the Institute of Contemporary History of the Czech Academy of Sciences in Prague, and the Leibniz Centre for Contemporary History Potsdam.
Venue
Liberec is a charming university town surrounded by mountains, as well as a modern European centre of technological innovation and industrial excellence. Its rapid industrialisation, extreme ethnic and political upheavals, and a unique position within the communist dictatorship and post-socialist transformation make it an ideal place to examine key concepts and current issues from a historical perspective.
Programme
This five-day summer school features a series of lectures and interactive workshops introducing the latest trends of historical research into the technological innovations in the 20th century, their political and economic consequences, emerging inequalities and broad cultural change. Field trips to regional locations and institutions will provide a valuable opportunity to gain real-life insights into the phenomena being discussed.
Daily sections will cover the following topics:
- The politics of technology in the era of nationalism
- Industrialisation, deindustrialisation and regional inequality
- War, innovation and production
- Socialist technocratic thinking and management
- The Digital between technological innovation and cultural change
Applicants
We invite applications from PhD and MA students in relevant disciplines. We especially welcome proposals from students who wish to join the discussions and/or to present a 15-minute paper based on their research.
Costs
Accepted applicants will be provided with free accommodation and board during event days and will have reasonable travel expenses covered from their home to Technical University Liberec.
How to apply
Please complete the application form. For more information, email:
Deadline for submission of applications: 30 March 2026
(Applications submitted after this date can still be reviewed on a case-by-case basis until the maximum number of participants is reached.)
