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• 15 nov 2014

  Mainz

  Call for papers - Europe

  Town Twinning in Europe

  Concepts and Praxis of Rapprochement during the 20th Century

  Today there are almost 20,000 communal partnerships across Europe. In fact, they have become somewhat of a mass phenomenon since the 1960s. Despite this impressive development, historical research has shown little devotion to this particular form of international relations. Its detailed analysis, however, allows special insight into the participation of “common citizens” in international initiatives and international exchange in a communal setting. The goal of the conference is to depict the history of town twinning by challenging the concept and definition thereof. City partnerships have particularly developed in the context of bilateral rapprochement after the Second World War, the European Integration and the Cold War. Since the collapse of the Soviet bloc, they have also become a symbol for a Europe of civil partnership “from below”. Furthermore, they do not only play an important role in Europe and its relations with its neighbors, but through globalization, ultimately with the rest of the world.

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