The RICHIE network: our goals

Goals

The history of European integration is a rather new research area, that uses an increasing amount of recently opened archives. However, young researchers often lack from international cooperation because they have no access to a shared information and reflexion platform.

The RICHIE network aims to foster contacts between young researchers in European history. It is run by a team of young PhD students and academics from several European countries.

Research fields

We adopt a broad definition of European integration, including countries of Eastern Europe, candidates to the EU, and foreign countries such as the USA, and topics such as political or economic history, international relations, etc.

The RICHIE network does not take a stand about its object, does not favour or criticize the historical phenomenon of European integration.

Activities

RICHIE uses various ways to achieve its goals:

• A large conference focusing on youngest researchers. The first one was held in Paris in April 2005; then came Copenhagen (December 2006), Naples (December 2007), Cergy (December 2008). All the RICHIE conferences have been published by Peter Lang.
• Electronic tools, such as a mailing-list, this multilingual website.
• Thematic workshops gathering researchers working on similar topics. According to their own agenda, they organize conferences, working sessions, electronic discussions, etc.
• Partnerships with similar networks.

Briefly... What is a RICHIE event?

A RICHIE event aims to offer to young researchers on European integration an opportunity to expose their work in a neutral environment, according to the following guidelines:

• The event focuses on an aspect of European integration in a broad sense;
• It is organized by or in close cooperation with young researchers;
• The speakers are PhD students or post-doctoral researchers. Academics and senior researchers intervene as members of scientific committees, chairpersons, debaters, etc;
• The event is multinational;
• The event has various sponsors (universities, research centers, etc.), to remain independant from institutional networks.

To summarize, we try to encourage any initiative of, by and for young researchers with a strong interest for foreign research and new networks!