Research Maarten Van Ginderachter

Abstract

This project proposes a close and long overdue examination of the Belgian King Leopold II's network of formal and informal diplomatic intermediaries in late Qing China. Despite of major Belgian infrastructural investments in East Asia tied to the king's imperialistic ambitions, the presence of Belgian agents in China is rarely if ever mentioned in the existing literature. An analysis of these brokers' position and networks provides unique insight into various inter-imperial encounters that unfolded within this highly dynamic transnational community. As these Leopoldian agents pursued multiple agendas that were not always strictly tied to 'Leopoldian' or 'Belgian' interests, this project will bring nuance to the image of Leopold II as a prime mover within the colonial web. Combining socio-cultural techniques from New Diplomatic and New Imperial History, this research will deconstruct the linear and teleological narrative of the Big Game in China. Moving beyond the dichotomy of metropole-periphery that still constrains much of the current historiography, this actor-centered exploration will offer a more comprehensive understanding of 'Western' imperialist designs, opening windows onto the intermediary role of brokers from small state powers, inter-imperial collaboration and competition and the workings of behind-the-scenes diplomacy in semi-colonial spaces.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Van Ginderachter Maarten
• Fellow: Ceulemans Eline

Research team(s)

• Power in History - Centre for Political History

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

This project focuses on the understudied presence of Belgium in late Qing China, which was conspicuous in terms of infrastructural investments and closely tied to the imperialist ambitions of King Leopold II. It proposes a close and long overdue examination of Leopold's complicated web of actors in China during the monarch's reign (1865-1909). Although the King's various 'diplomatic' agents were in close contact with the Palace, their own agendas were not always tied to a strictly 'Leopoldian' or 'Belgian' set of interests, but sometimes also to those of other powers active in China. By combining socio-cultural microlevel analyses with an investigation of larger politico-economic processes, this project will reveal the thoughts, practices and networks of these border-crossing people, men and some women, from the often-neglected perspective of 'small powers' like Belgium. Belgian state and non-state agents are rarely if ever mentioned in major studies on late Qing China. Moving the attention beyond the dichotomy of metropole-periphery that still constrains much of the current literature, this actor-based socio-cultural history of Leopoldian/Belgian expansion in China will offer a more layered understanding of 'Western' imperialist designs, that opens windows onto small state powers in East Asia, inter-imperial collaboration and competition, and the still barely studied workings of behind-the-scenes (dynastic) diplomacy in semi-colonial spaces as China.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Van Ginderachter Maarten
• Fellow: Ceulemans Eline

Research team(s)

• Power in History - Centre for Political History

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

In 2010, Power in History created Plenum.be, an internet-resource on which the Proceedings of the Belgian House of Representatives for the years between 1844 and 1999 were made available and fully searchable; Today, this widely used but technically deficient tool urgently needs a thorough update. With the project, we specifically want to 1) develop a new project database, in order to deliver robust search performance, 2) design a new project website, 3) re-process the available text corpus with state-of-the-art OCR software, 4) identify the structure of the parliamentary debates (different speakers and speeches), 5) create a new server for the project, hosted at the central UAntwerpen server room. As such, we want to enhance considerably the availibility of this tool for both academic and non-academic researchers, and to create possibilities for innovative forms of discursive analysis (also at an international and interdisciplinary level).

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Beyen Marnix
• Co-promoter: de Smaele Henk
• Co-promoter: Van Ginderachter Maarten

Research team(s)

• Power in History - Centre for Political History

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

In the wake of postwar decolonization, various forms of "Arab socialism" reached their zenith in the Arab world, inspiring revolutions, popular resistance, and reforms of new regimes. Though there now exists a broad understanding of Arab socialism's impact on the Muslim societies involved, and its role in international relations has become subject of new research, its impact on non-state relations between Western Europe and the Arab world is far less known. Indeed, narratives of conflicts between a "liberal" Europe and a "violent" Arab world have overshadowed Western European exchanges and fascination with Arab socialism. Left-wing solidarity with the Muslim world might be well-known due to present-day civil campaigns over causes such as Palestine and Syria. This engagement, however, is part of an older and broader fascination that proceeded through a variety of transnational contacts linking the West with the Arab socialist world starting in the 1950s. Nasser's modernization of Egypt, Socialist Algeria, and Gaddafi's Libya became models for non-alignment, socialist development, and human rights in surprisingly wide circles among Western European NGOs, intellectuals, and solidarity movements. The goal of this research project is to delve into the networks and ideas that connected social movements in Western Europe and the Arab world. In this way, it addresses critical issues in the history of transnational North-South connections, "socialist" globalization, and human rights.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Van Ginderachter Maarten
• Fellow: Christiaens Kim

Research team(s)

• Power in History - Centre for Political History

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Since the end of the 18th century nationalism, national movements and national identity have played an important role in the history of Europe. In spite of the numerous local specific conditions and the historical variables, there are parallels between the national movements. The discourses of national uniqueness were forged in a context of intense international exchanges across national borders. Moreover, national ideologies can only be defined through their dialectical relationship with one another. Despite a recent upsurge, the fact that national movements are pre-eminently transnational has been insufficiently studied so far. There are relatively few studies about transfers and transnational influences in the construction of nations and there is a lack of empirically based comparisons: national identity has been mainly studied within separate nations. Even when comparisons are made, the cases are often chosen from the same geographical area. Researchers from other linguistic regions often remain unaware of the results across the language barrier. This prevents many studies from penetrating the international arena and limits researchers to only carrying out comparative research within their own linguistic community. Additionally, much information on the sources for the study of national movements is based on uncontrolled data, which are not presented in a systematic way. So far, there has not been a coordinated effort on a European level to collect records, documentation and information on this subject, to conserve and disclose them for research. At the same time there is also a need for advice and support for the conservation and disclosure of the sources. All these elements enhance the need for comparative, transnational historiographical methods and means. That is why the interdisciplinary NISE network was established for research, heuristic and archival purposes. Its main objective is to enable comparative and transnational studies on national and regional movemens. Mapping out personal and institutional relations between national movements will enable researchers to study political and cultural transfers. This will in turn lead to a more empirically driven theory formation of nationalism.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Van Ginderachter Maarten

Research team(s)

• Power in History - Centre for Political History

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Nations and nationalism from the margins. A research agenda This collaborative project wants to innovate nations and nationalism research 'from three margins': 1. Thematically: studying groups that are not part of national(ist) movements, have resisted national integration and/or have been neglected by scholars. 2. Methodologically and heuristically: reframing nations and nationalism from outside nationalism studies (e.g. urban history, ethnomethodology), bringing together scholars from diverse fields (e.g. history, political science, sociology, anthropology, literary studies, etc.), using original or underused sources. 3. Geographically integrating and comparing 'marginal' cases that are often neglected because most research focuses on the well-known larger cases. In order to further this research agenda, we plan to organise four intensive workshops that have to result in a publication: 1. Breaching banal nationalism 2. National indifference 3. National identification and personal experience 4. Rethinking civic vs. ethnic nationalism More information on: www.uantwerpen.be/en/conferences/from-the-margins/programme/

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Van Ginderachter Maarten

Research team(s)

• Power in History - Centre for Political History

Project website

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

At the beginning of the 21st century the number of non-governmental organizations participating in the transnational civil society of human rights is almost uncountable. One could applaud the proliferation of human rights organizations (HROs) but one should also wonder why so many exist. Does this reflect an effective division of labour or does it indicate particularistic interests? This project, which dovetails with the very recent growth of historical research into HROs, focuses on the tension between their universalist mission and their particularistic tendencies. The underlying hypothesis is that the increasing participation of HROs in a 'human rights marketplace' has created a competition that is sometimes at odds with the universalist logic of cooperation and the defence of human rights. Or in other words: organizational self-interest may have fragmented the universal ideal of human rights and hampered the effectiveness of the activities and campaigns of HROs. This hypothesis will be tested through an analysis of the relations between Amnesty International USA and Human Rights Watch between 1978 and 2008, combining structural-quantitative research (historical social network analysis) and a qualitative examination of sources.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Van Ginderachter Maarten
• Fellow: De Sutter Bart

Research team(s)

• Power in History - Centre for Political History

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Van Ginderachter Maarten

Research team(s)

• Power in History - Centre for Political History

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

At the beginning of the 21st century the number of non-governmental organizations participating in the transnational civil society of human rights is almost uncountable. One could applaud the proliferation of human rights organizations (HROs) but one should also wonder why so many exist. Does this reflect an effective division of labour or does it indicate particularistic interests? This project, which dovetails with the very recent growth of historical research into HROs, focuses on the tension between their universalist mission and their particularistic tendencies. The underlying hypothesis is that the increasing participation of HROs in a 'human rights marketplace' has created a competition that is sometimes at odds with the universalist logic of cooperation and the defence of human rights. Or in other words: organizational self-interest may have fragmented the universal ideal of human rights and hampered the effectiveness of the activities and campaigns of HROs. This hypothesis will be tested through an analysis of the relations between Amnesty International USA and Human Rights Watch between 1978 and 2008, combining structural-quantitative research (historical social network analysis) and a qualitative examination of sources.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Van Ginderachter Maarten
• Fellow: De Sutter Bart

Research team(s)

• Power in History - Centre for Political History

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

This project analyses to what degree and how military service acted as a conduit of norms and values between the army and civilian society in Belgium in the period 1830-1914. More specifically it questions whether conscription had 'civilising' effects on the army or a 'militarising' influence on civilian society. In concreto, it focuses on the national political arena.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Van Ginderachter Maarten

Research team(s)

• Power in History - Centre for Political History

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

This project wants to stimulate international cooperation between Oxford, Leiden and Antwerp universities. The objective is to fundamentally reframe our historic knowledge about nation building processes. Benedict Anderson's paradigm of imagined communities will be challenged through a comparative research into the imagining of the nation within different urban milieus in Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Van Ginderachter Maarten

Research team(s)

• Power in History - Centre for Political History

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

This comparative project will examine the tension between centre and periphery in national identity construction in Belgium and New Zealand during the 19th and 20th centuries. To compensate for their small size, lack of international clout and peripheral position, both have imagined themselves as frontier nations. The global perspective is present at three different levels: content (representation), analysis (explanation) and methodology (spatial scales)

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Van Ginderachter Maarten

Research team(s)

• Power in History - Centre for Political History

Project type(s)

• Research Project