5th ISA Forum of Sociology (6-11 July 2025)

The importance of historical research and interpretations has increased in the face of today's problems and politics. This politics of history includes issues like the politicization of historical narratives, decolonization and restorative justice, politically and historically sensitive experiences, the erasure of histories and of historical connections, a lack of dialogue and awareness of research-based historical interpretations, and the general mobilization and abuse of history to fuel conflicts.

Historical interpretations and limitations through which key issues of social participation and exclusion are constructed and reproduced – patriotism, minority rights, citizenship etc. – must be open to democratic, pluralistic re-interpretation. Truth and reconciliation committees are an example of this, – and highly connected to issues around legitimate knowledge production – where reconciliation must be accompanied with a re-interpretation of historical “truth” about the society from the other’s perspective.

Democratic politics itself is an on-going process that requires constant (re)democratization. It needs the potential to democratically undermine and transform itself. Such transformation is impossible, if we cannot re-interpret and critically question the historical foundations and trajectories of politics and societies. If we are limited by teleological, civilizationalist, linear, or nationally and ethnically bounded historical narratives, we cannot rethink and challenge existing power structures.

This regular session invites submissions addressing history politics and the use and abuse of history, or more broadly sociology’s engagement with historical research and interpretations as they relate to today’s politics and social problems. Besides empirical work, also theoretical and methodological papers developing a sociology of history politics are invited.