It has long been acknowledged that British history cannot be exclusively constructed from the histories of the white ethnic groups traditionally perceived to make up the British Isles. History in Britain, as in most nations, is a mosaic of different inter

De Montfort University, 6-7 September 2003

It has long been acknowledged that British history cannot be exclusively constructed from the histories of the white ethnic groups traditionally perceived to make up the British Isles. History in Britain, as in most nations, is a mosaic of different interpretations and experiences, of indigenous histories intertwined with the story of immigration and the development of migrant communities. This conference seeks to explore the meeting points between these tales of immigration and British history more generally, firmly writing the immigrant minority experience into the broader sweep of British historiography. It is also hoped that the conference will underline the significance of 'history from below' by examining the 'smaller histories' of the minority groups, and more particularly the role of history in constructing and maintaining ethnic and national identity. In order to achieve this the conference aims to break down the disciplinary boundaries that often prevent the wider dissemination and discussion of research relating to Britain's ethnic minorities, allowing a broad range of approaches, ideas and research findings to be shared. Following the themes of 'immigration, history and memory', the forum will provide an opportunity for scholars from a variety of disciplinary backgrounds to bring together their work on the diverse minority groups in Britain.

Papers: Please send abstracts of around 250 words considering one or more of the following themes and groups by 28th February 2003

· We would like the conference to reflect the enormous diversity of immigrant groups in Britain, from Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle and Far East. Papers are welcomed covering periods within the nineteenth, twentieth and twenty first centuries, but this time-span is flexible, allowing for earlier research where this fits with the conference themes.

· Key themes: Papers are welcomed from a range of disciplines, most obviously history, anthropology, sociology, geography and media studies. This list is not prescriptive and papers addressing other relevant themes are also invited.
· History and national and ethnic identity
· 'Official' history and immigration
· Oral history and ethnicity
· Myths, controversial and hidden histories
· Racism, memory and forgetting
· Transmitting and/or 'performing' history
· Memory and forced migration

Abstracts should be sent to Kathy Burrell or Panikos Panayi