A session focusing on global diplomacy in the early modern world will take place at  Svenska historikermötet (Swedish historians' meeting) in Malmö, 6-8 May 2026.

 

Komplexa relationer: global diplomati i den tidigmoderna världen (Complex relations: global diplomacy in the early modern world).

 

The session, that will be held in Swedish, looks at how the expansion of European powers after 1500 contributed to the development of a diplomatic praxis on a global level, that included the conclusion of treaties and agreements as binding legal instruments. The panel seeks to catch the process by applying new perspectives on negotiations and treaty-making in the period up to the 19^th century. Diplomatic history has traditionally focused on the political aspects of the contacts and usually retained a certain Eurocentrism. In later years, this has been challenged by new perspectives, often summarized as New Diplomatic History. Here, the researcher tries to analyse the cultural and ideological aspects in the diplomatic exchange. Aspects that are studied include gift exchange, personal relations, gender aspects, materiality. Interpreters, and different language versions of the treaties. Frpm these perspectives, the presenters strive to apply new interpretations in a number of cases from various parts of the world. 

 

Participants

 

Hans Hägerdal, Professor in History, Linnaeus University

 

Isak Kronberg, PhD student in History, Linnaeus University

 

Joachim Östlund, Professor in History, Lund University