Contributions to the History of Concepts

Editors: Gabriel Entin, CONICET /Universidad de Chile, Jan Ifversen, University of Aarhus, Silke Schwandt, Universität Bielefeld, Florian Zemmin, Freie Universität Berlin
Interim Editor: Frederik Schröer, Max Planck Institute of Human Development, Germany 

Subjects: history of ideas, history of ideology, intellectual history, linguistics, political science, political theory

Published on behalf of the History of Concepts Group.

HCG Membership includes a subscription to this journal. Members can access the journal online here.

 Available on JSTOR  

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Latest Issue Table of Contents

Volume 19 (2024): Issue 2 (Jun 2024)

Special Section

Volume 19 / 2024, 3 issues per volume (spring, summer, winter)

Aims & Scope

Contributions to the History of Concepts is the international peer-reviewed journal of the History of Concepts Group (formerly HPSCG). It is hosted and sponsored by the Universität Bielefeld.

The journal serves as a platform for theoretical and methodological articles as well as empirical studies on the history of concepts and their social, political, and cultural contexts. It aims to promote the dialogue between the history of concepts and other disciplines, such as intellectual history, history of knowledge and science, linguistics, translation studies, history of political thought and discourse analysis.

Indexing/Abstracting

Contributions to the History of Concepts is indexed/abstracted in:

  • Bibliometric Research Indicator List (BFI)
  • Current Abstracts (EBSCO)
  • Emering Sources Citation Index (Web of Science)
  • European Reference Index for the Humanities and the Social Sciences (ERIH PLUS)
  • MLA International Bibliography
  • Norwegian Register for Scientific Journals, Series and Publishers
  • Scopus (Elsevier)
  • TOC Premier Table of Contents (EBSCO)

Editors: Gabriel Entin, CONICET / Universidad de Chile, Chile
Jan Ifversen, University of Aarhus, Denmark
Frederik Schröer, Max Planck Institute of Human Development, Berlin, Germany
Silke Schwandt, Universität Bielefeld, Germany
Florian Zemmin, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany

Reviews Editors:  Rieke Trimçev, University of Griefswald, Germany 
Managing Editor: Ilana Brown
Social Media Editors: Olga Salbelfeld, Universität Bielefeld, Germany
Michael Götzelmann, Universität Bielefeld, Germany

Editorial Board:
Mark Bevir, University of California, Berkeley, USA
Hans Erich Bödeker, Max Planck Institute for the History of Science, Germany
Pim den Boer, Universiteit van Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Martin J. Burke, City University of New York, USA
Sebastian Conrad, Freie Universtät, Germany
João Feres, Jr., Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Neil Foxlee, University of Central Lancashire, UK
Michael Freeden, University of Oxford, UK
Jacques Guilhaumou, CNRS, France
Young-Sun Ha, Seoul National University, South Korea
Iain Hampsher-Monk, University of Exeter, UK
Britta Hochkirchen, Universtät Bielefeld, Germany
Lucian Hölscher, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Germany
Uffe Jakobsen, University of Greenland
Helge Jordheim, University of Oslo, Norway
Jörn Leonhard, Universität Freiburg, Germany
Rochona Majumdar, University of Chicago, USA
Diana Mishkova, Centre for Advanced Study Sofia, Bulgaria
Lisa Mitchell, University of Pennsylvania, USA
Raymonde Monnier, CNRS, France
Gabriel Motzkin, Max Planck Institute for the History of Science, Germany
Niklas Olsen, University of Copenhagen, Saxo Institute, Denmark
Kari Palonen, University of Jyväskylä, Finland
Elias José Palti, Universidad Nacional de Quilmes, Argentina
Anastasia Piliavsky, King's College London, UK
Kirill Postoutenko, Bielefeld University and Helsinki University, Finland
Melvin Richter,  City University of New York, Emeritus, USA (d.2020)
Sinai Rusinek, Haifa University and the Open University of Israel
Javier Fernández Sebastián, Universidad del País Vasco, Spain
Quentin Skinner,  Queen Mary, University of London, UK
Koen Stapelbroek,  James Cook University, Austalia
Willibald Steinmetz, Universität Bielefeld, Germany 
Henrik Stenius, University of Helsinki, Finland
Wyger Velema, Universiteit van Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Manuscript Submission

Please review the submission and style guidelines carefully before submitting. Please see our Contributions to the History of Concepts process infographic.

Contributions to the History of Concepts is a peer-reviewed, scholarly journal that serves as a platform for theoretical and methodological articles as well as empirical studies on the history of concepts and their social, political, and cultural contexts. The editorial board welcomes contributions. Authors should submit articles as word attachments by e-mail, formatted as Microsoft Word or Rich Text Format files, along with complete contact information to contributions@uni-bielefeld.de.

Normally, Contributions to the History of Concepts will not consider for publication articles previously published elsewhere, whether in print or online, whether in English or in some other language. Articles made available via open-access repositories are considered published. The journal will not publish articles structured as interviews.

It is a condition of publication in Contributions that authors grant an exclusive license to the journal. It is the author’s responsibility to obtain print and online permission to quote material from third-party sources and to cover any costs incurred in securing these rights. The editors should be alerted at the earliest opportunity as to any difficulty in securing these third-party rights.

Book Reviews: The editors welcome reviews of empirical studies on the history of concepts and their social, political, and cultural contexts, as well as theoretical and methodological work that relate to the history of concepts. Contributions to the History of Concepts does not publish previously published reviews or reviews of books that are more than two years old. Suggestions of particular books to be reviewed or queries about reviewing a particular book should be directed to the reviews editors, Frederik Schröer and Rieke Trimçev, at schroeer[at]mpib-berlin.mpg[dot]de, or rieke.trimcev[at]uni-greifswald[dot]de. Please do not send hard copies of books without prior inquiry via e-mail.

Have other questions? Please refer to the various Berghahn Info for Authors pages for general information and guidelines, including topics such as article usage and permissions for Berghahn journal article authors.

Ethics Statement

Authors published in Contributions to the History of Concepts (CHOC) certify that their works are original and their own. The editors certify that all materials, with the possible exception of editorial introductions, book reviews, and some types of commentary, have been subjected to double-blind peer review by qualified scholars in the field. While the publishers and editorial board make every effort to see that no inaccurate or misleading data, opinions, or statements appear in this journal, they wish to make clear that the data and opinions appearing in the articles herein are the sole responsibility of the contributor concerned. For a more detailed explanation concerning these qualifications and responsibilities, please see the complete CHOC ethics statement.

Annual Subscriptions

Volume 19/2024, 3 issues p.a. (summer, winter)
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The History of Concepts Group

The History of Concepts Group (HCG) was established at a meeting at the Finnish Institute in London in 1998. The purpose of the group was to bring together scholars interested in the study of political and social concepts. The HCG relies on a variety of approaches to the history of ideas and concepts that emerged in the 1960s and as part of a paradigm shift later named the linguistic turn.

Membership Rates

Sustaining Members 
$150 / ca. £115 / ca. € 130
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$100 / ca. £75 / ca. € 90
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** For Individual HCG membership rate (online w/ print added), please contact orders@berghahnjournals.com.

Membership benefits of the HCG:

  • Individual members receive an online subscription to the HCG flagship journal Contributions to the History of Concepts.
  • HCG is an international association in which people from many countries and regions will participate through conferences and research presentations. By participating in the HCG, members can build an excellent network of personal contacts.
  • Members will receive regular information about relevant topics of interest.
  • Members will receive a 25% discount on all Berghahn Books publications.

HCG members can access the journal online here.

Frequently Asked Questions

 

Who do I contact if I have questions about the HCG?
Please contact Sami Syrjämäki by e-mail.

What do my HCG Membership benefits include?

  • Individual and student members receive an online subscription to Contributions to the History of Concepts featuring theoretical and methodological articles as well as empirical studies on the history of concepts and their social, political, and cultural contexts.
  • HCG is an international association in which people from many countries and regions will participate through conferences and research presentations. By participating in the HCG, members can build an excellent network of personal contacts.
  • Members will receive regular information about relevant topics of interest.
  • Members will receive a 25% discount on all Berghahn Books publications.

Is there a student rate?
Yes, as a registered student you are entitled to a reduced membership fee, which entitles you to the online edition of Contributions to the History of Concepts. You must provide a copy of a valid student ID.

How long does an HCG membership last?
An HCG membership lasts one year and runs on a calendar year basis. In practice, this means that if you join any time during the year, you will be enrolled for that full year (e.g., if you join in June 2015, your membership will run until the end of December 2015). However, if you join toward the end of the calendar year (i.e., in November or December) you will have the option of enrolling for the following year (e.g., 2016), but this means that you will not be entitled to membership benefits for that current year (e.g., 2015).

How do I receive the HCG flagship journal, Contributions to the History of Concepts?
When you become a member of the HCG, you will receive online access to the journal for each year of membership.

How do I access the online Contributions to the History of Concepts as part of my membership benefits?
Online access to Contributions to the History of Concepts is available to all current HCG members. You are required to provide an e-mail address, which will be used to access the journal online here.

How do I join the HCG?
To join the HCG, please contact orders@berghahnjournals.com.

Alternatively, you can mail in your order form with check or credit card details to your nearest Berghahn distribution office (see contact details above).

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All members will automatically be mailed their receipt after their order is processed. If you have not received it, please contact orders@berghahnjournals.com for a receipt to be mailed or e-mailed to you.

If you join or renew online, you will also receive an e-mail notification.

May I make my HCG membership retroactive?
Yes. An HCG membership is made active when your payment is processed and will be backdated for the entire year. Individual members will receive access to all previous online issues of Contributions to the History of Concepts that they will have missed. The only exception is for members joining at the end of the calendar year, in which case they will be given the option to enroll in the following year.

If you opt for the print add-on membership (for an extra fee) you will receive any print issues you may have missed for that year. If you join at the end of the year and elect the following year, you will only receive print issues for the future volume and not receive past print issues.

How do I renew my membership?
Once you become a member, Berghahn Journals will automatically send you a membership invoice each following year, at the beginning of the calendar year, to remind you to renew your membership. At that time, you should then submit payment online or by mail (see contact details above).

How can I obtain print copies of Contributions to the History of Concepts?
If you wish to receive print copies of the journal as part of your membership, you may do so for a higher membership fee of $85/£52/€65. Please contact orders@berghahnjournals.com directly.

Anyone wishing to purchase single copy print back issues from 2005 to the present (from Volume 1 and on) should also contact orders@berghahnjournals.com. 

Note that all HCG members may access the online Contributions to the History of Concepts (from 2005 to the present) for free as part of their membership benefit.

How do I publish an article in Contributions to the History of Concepts? Do I have to be a member?
You do not have to be a member to publish in Contributions, although you are encouraged to join. The editors to the journal welcome all submissions for consideration. Please see the Submit tab for more information.

How can I find out about or attend an upcoming conference? Do I have to be a member?
Conferences are open to all those who are interested in attending or submitting a paper.

For further information on all HCG events contact Sami Syrjämäki by e-mail. 

Other questions?
For questions about the HCG and any upcoming events, please contact Sami Syrjämäki by e-mail. 

For questions about your current membership status or for confirmation on your membership (such as receipt of your payment or the status of your membership copies of Contributions to the History of Concepts), please contact orders@berghahnjournals.com.

European Conceptual History

berghahnbooks.com/series/european-conceptual-history

Editors:

Michael Freeden, University of Oxford
Diana Mishkova, Centre for Advanced Study Sofia
Javier Fernández-Sebastián, Universidad del País Vasco, Bilbao
Willibald Steinmetz, University of Bielefeld
Henrik Stenius, University of Helsinki

The transformation of social and political concepts is central to understanding the histories of societies. This series focuses on the notable values and terminology that have developed throughout European history, exploring key concepts such as parliamentarianism, democracy, civilization, and liberalism to illuminate a vocabulary that has helped to shape the modern world.

Volume 8
Beyond 'Hellenes' and 'Barbarians'
Asymmetrical Concepts in European Discourse
Edited by Kirill Postoutenko

 

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Online ISSN:
1874-656X
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Introduction and Prefaces to the Geschichtliche Grundbegriffe

(Basic Concepts in History: A Historical Dictionary of Political and Social Language in Germany)

01 Jun 2011
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This is the first English translation of Reinhart Koselleck's "Introduction" to the Geschichtliche Grundbegriffe (GG, Basic Concepts in History: A Historical Dictionary of Political and Social Language in Germany), which charts how in German-speaking Europe the accelerated changes occurring between the Enlightenment, the French Revolution and the Industrial Revolution were perceived, conceptualized and incorporated into political and social language, registering the transition from a hierarchy of orders to modern societies. The "Introduction" presents the problematic and method formulated in 1972 by Koselleck for writing the history of concepts (Begriffsgeschichte). During the twenty-five years needed to complete the GG, he continued to revise and develop this method. In prefaces written for subsequent volumes, he replied to criticisms of its choice of basic concepts and findings. In these prefaces Koselleck both summarized the great contribution to our historical knowledge of political and social terms that this work and its index volumes had made, and suggested further research projects to build upon its achievements.

Whither Conceptual History?

From National to Entangled Histories

Author:
Margrit Pernau
01 Jun 2012
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The last decade has witnessed a remarkable internationalization in conceptual history. Research covers more countries and languages than ever before, and there have been a number of very good comparative studies. This article reflects on the possibility of taking conceptual history beyond comparison. Like nations, languages can no longer be considered as naturally given entities, but have to be viewed as profoundly shaped by historical exchanges. This brings conceptual history into a dialogue with translation studies in a common attempt to unravel how equivalents between languages have been created by the actors.

About Key Concepts and How to Study Them

Author:
Jan Ifversen
01 Jun 2011
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The article explores the object and the methodology of conceptual history, by elaborating on Reinhart Koselleck's idea of key concepts, and proposes to study them according to two different aspects of meaning: The representational aspect, which touches upon the relations between words and concepts and studies words and concepts within semantic fields, and the referential aspect, which brings in both the social history reflected in semantic changes and the contexts in which the concepts serve as factors, and which make the use of the concepts possible. The article concludes with a methodological suggestion for the use of digitized textual databases for diachronic as well as synchronic histories of concepts.

Entangled History and the Scholarly Concept of Enlightenment

01 Dec 2013
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This article considers the methodology of entangled history and its potential for nuancing or circumventing scholarly controversies over the nature and extent of the Enlightenment in eighteenth-century religious thought. After sketching the development of entangled history theory and its potential applicability to studying the Enlightenment, the rest of the article provides a case study of one way in which the insights discussed in the first parts of the article can be applied to current controversies about how historians construct the concept of Enlightenment. As will be shown, the transdiscursive entanglement of Jesuit missionary output with the debates between Voltaire and Bergier illustrates the mutability and rhetorical malleability of historical paradigms concerning the Enlightenment and religion.