The 6th conference of the network for New Diplomatic History, scheduled for the spring of 2025 at Sciences po Aix, will mark the 12th anniversary of the inaugural NDH conference held at Leiden in 2013 (https://newdiplomatichistory.org). This event will be dedicated to the study of diplomatic transfers, networks, representations and practices between the World and Europe, but also between Europe and the World. This approach aims to highlight North-South and South-North dimensions of diplomatic practices and actors during the modern and contemporary periods (XVIth – XXIst centuries).

The theme chosen for this conference will gather research dealing with diplomacy as a shared activity. Peoples involved in diplomacy are constantly dependent on their interlocutors, their practices, their rhythms and their language. They feed off the experiences they encounter, seeking to adapt their negotiating style to the world’s political, social, psychological and technological evolutions, with the aim of best defending their country’s interests. While the idea is well establish that diplomatic actors in the South were able to draw inspiration from the practices of the North to assert themselves on the international scene at the turning point of the decolonization process, historiography has not only shown that transnational North-South, South-South and South-North transnational influences were already at work before the mid- twentieth century, but also that after the decolonizations, the countries of the North had no choice but to adapt to the realities and experiences of the South in order to have a say in post-colonial international relations.

The goal of this 6th conference will be to continue the efforts of previous meetings to broaden the scope of new diplomatic history. It welcomes global perspectives originating from outside the Euro-American sphere, to explore the inter-cultural dimensions of diplomatic contacts across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, and how diplomatic norms have been adapted to context-specific settings and practices.

The conference thus welcomes proposals for panels or contributions on, but not limited to, the following subjects:

- North-South Diplomatic networks
- Transfers of diplomatic norms, practices and languages
- Circulations of diplomatic and para-diplomatic personnel
- Evolutions and functioning of diplomatic institutions
- Diaspora diplomacy
- Consular networks
- Diplomatic corps and diplomatic milieus

These are meant as broad categories, and the conference will be opened to a variety of approaches. In doubt, please contact the organisers to check whether the subject you have in mind would fit.

The conference will be organised on site, but using a hybrid format. The goal is to have as many participants as possible on site, but presenters will also be able to participate remotely, using the technical possibilities offered by Sciences po Aix. Taking this into account, I would like to ask you to mention in your proposal if you intend to participate remotely, and the reasons for doing so. Entire panels can be organised remotely, if all the participants agree.

Proposals for single contributions or panels should be sent to the following address: ndhaix2025@gmail.com, before October 1st 2024.

The organisers would be grateful if you could advertise the conference via your own networks. While advertising on social media, please use the conference’s tag #NDH6Aix2025. On Twitter, remember to tag the NDH-network: @NDH_Network

Single proposals should be no more than 300 words, panel proposals no more than 500 words. The names of the participants and their contacts should be included in the proposal. For panel proposals, the panel organiser’s name should be clearly marked, as well as the panel’s discussant.

Abstracts will be published online ahead of the conference, and participants will be asked to provide their panel’s discussant with a written version of their presentation to serve as a basis for comments.