International Conference
"Empires: Experience, Memory and Idea."
Pamplona - October 1st-3rd, 2025
The resurgence of great-power competition and renewed debates over imperial legacies have sparked scholarly and policy interest in the historical and contemporary dimensions of empires. Current discourse extends beyond traditional postcolonial analyses to examine emerging forms of imperialism and colonialism. Empires, transcending specific civilizations, have produced varied experiences, from violence and resistance to cultural governance and economic exploitation, which continue to shape global inequalities, collective identities, and international relations.
Theorizations of empire, such as the Roman "katechon," the Chinese "mandate of heaven," and the West's "manifest destiny," have long coexisted with critiques and resistance. These debates remain pertinent, addressing historical and emerging imperial systems while exploring the causes of their rise and decline.
Collective memory and memorialization are central to understanding these legacies, influencing how societies construct identities and negotiate their place in the global order. Conflicts over imperial symbols-such as statue removals and renaming institutions-illustrate the contested space where history, power, and identity intersect.
This conference aims to foster interdisciplinary dialogue, examining the interplay between imperial histories and contemporary memory politics, and exploring how these dynamics shape modern political, cultural, and academic frameworks.
This congress is part of the ICS Challenge 24-25 "Orientalism and Occidentalism: crossed gazes" of the Institute for Culture and Society of the University of Navarra.
- Material and cultural legacies of empire in the present.
- Contemporary imperial formations and great power/geopolitical competition.
- Historical patterns of imperial governance and resistance across civilizations.
- Emerging forms of hegemony and their relationship to historical imperial models.
- Imperial economic structures and resource extraction networks.
- Cultural and religious diversity management in imperial systems.
- Contestation of imperial memory in public spaces.
- Monuments, museums and architectural heritage in post-imperial spaces.
- Political theology and philosophical justifications of empire.
- Literary and artistic representations of imperial power.
- Educational approaches to imperial history.
- Rise and decline narratives of empires.
- Imperial knowledge production and epistemologies.
- Cross-cultural encounters and imperial frontiers.
- Religious dimensions of imperial legitimation.
- The politics of memory in post-imperial spaces.
- Construction of individual and collective identities through imperial memories.
- The role of memorialization and commemorative practices in shaping modern subjectivities.
- Collective nostalgia and critical engagement with imperial pasts.
- Intersection of trauma, memory, and international relations.
- The influence of imperial legacies on contemporary foreign policy.
- Ontological security and collective memory in post-imperial societies.
- The impact of historical memory on interstate reconciliation.
Individual paper presentations
(15 minutes)
Panel proposals
(3-4 papers, 90 minutes)
Those interested in participating should send their submissions before April 30th, 2025, to the email icsevents@unav.es. We welcome three types of submissions: individual paper presentations (20 minutes), panel proposals (3-4 papers, 90 minutes), and research posters.
Submissions will be evaluated by the scientific committee of the conference. Successful applicants will be notified no later than May 31st, 2025.
Paper submissions should include the paper title, a 300-word abstract, author's institutional affiliation, and 5 keywords maximum. Panel submissions must include a panel overview (500 words maximum) with a clear panel title, individual paper abstracts (250 words each) with their titles, and complete information for all participants. This includes the chair's name and institutional affiliation, all presenters' names and institutional affiliations, and the discussant's details if applicable.
Accepted authors will have 15 minutes to present their papers. Panel sessions will be allocated 90 minutes. Online presentations will only be accepted if they are considered of outstanding relevance. For panel proposals, each session will be allocated a 90-minute slot to accommodate 3-4 papers, with 20 minutes per presentation and 30 minutes reserved for discussion and Q&A. All panels must include a designated chair, and discussants are optional. Panel proposals should demonstrate thematic coherence while offering diverse perspectives on the topic. This congress is part of the ICS Challenge 24-25 "Orientalism and Occidentalism: crossed gazes" of the Institute for Culture and Society of the University of Navarra. Submissions will be considered from disciplines within the Humanities and Social Sciences, including history, political philosophy, international relationships, sociology, social sciences and any other discipline or work that deals with the topics at hand.
From the Institute for Advanced Study, he specializes in European and colonial history from the Renaissance to the 18th century. His B include The Dutch Republic and Radical Enlightenment, focusing on the impact of philosophy on modernity and democracy. His recent research explores the Radical Enlightenment's early critique of European colonialism (1660-1770).
King's College London. Peter Heather's work concerns the later Roman Empire and its successor states. His books include The Goths (1996), The Fall of the Roman Empire (2005), Empires and Barbarians (2009), and (with John Rapley) Why Empires Fall: Rome, America, and the Future of the West (2023).
From The University of Chicago, Julian Go studies the social dynamics, structures, and impacts of empires and colonialism, alongside postcolonial and decolonial thought. His research also explores global historical sociology and epistemology. His B include American Empire and the Politics of Meaning (2008), Patterns of Empire (2011), and Policing Empires (2023).
University of Copenhagen. Maria Mälksoo's work concerns Critical Security Studies (ontological security, securitization of historical memory); political anthropology (liminality, rituals), and the political practice of deterrence. Her books include The Politics of Becoming European (2010), Remembering Katyn (2012), and Handbook on the Politics of Memory (2023).
From Stockholm University, Gustafsson focuses on security, power, and the role of collective memory in International Relations. His research examines how memory politics and narratives influence international relations, particularly in East Asia. B articles include Memory Politics and Ontological Security in Sino-Japanese Relations (2014), Routinised Recognition and Anxiety (2016), and Narrative Power (2019). His work explores the impact of storytelling on East Asian politics.
ORGANIZING COMMITTEE
Javier
Gil
Jaume
Aurell
Montserrat
Herrero
Melikke
Akkaraca
Raul
Under
Ana Belén
Martínez
How to get there
Institute for Culture and Society, University of Navarra. Pamplona
The entrance to the building is through the Central Library and the Ismael Sánchez Bella building.
Calle Universidad, 6, 31009 Pamplona, Navarre
31008 Pamplona.
Nearby hotels
→ Blanca de Navarra Hotel 4*.
→ Sancho Ramírez Hotel 3*.
→ Occidental Hotel Pamplona 4*.