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We often imagine that the speed of development of global events has always remained constant. This is reflected in the fact that it is generally believed that the rate of change in natural phenomena is the same today as it has always been in the past and will remain this way more or less in the future. Yet it has increasingly been recognized that the speed of progression of events is not constant over time. It has been suggested that since around the beginning of the 20th century the rate has accelerated in various fields, hence the term "acceleration of history" came to describe this phenomenon. This acceleration continues its course today and is likely even to intensify.

Examples of these historical vaults in short time periods are many, either local or international, and have contributed to changes in the direction of history. Under any circumstances though, the “objective” conditions for change are not enough without human agency. This phenomenon has been referred to as the “acceleration of history” in order to emphasize the fact that if in the past a certain lapse of time was necessary for history to unfold - for the events to take place - today, and starting around the beginning of the 20th century, this time lapse became increasingly shorter. The events today, therefore, have accelerated much more quickly than in the past.

How is this acceleration taking place? Where does it come from and what does it mean? Does it affect all areas, including nature, humans, politics, work and social relationships?

To explore these and similar issues, the Institute of Commonwealth Studies of University of London, the Press & Information Office of the Republic of Cyprus and  the European University of Cyprus are co-organizing a conference exploring both theoretical approaches of the phenomenon of acceleration of history and a broad range of local and international examples of the application of this theory.

Academics and researchers are invited to submit competitive abstracts and papers for presentation that address the following as well as other related thematic issues:

·        War, conflicts and rebellions. Is acceleration of history a Game of Violence?

·        Is Culture accelerating through time?

·        Intra- and post-crisis transitions. How and when the Economy changed the direction of history.

·        Europe: Yesterday’s and Today’s playing field of Change.

·        Media, Technology, and Society Evolution: When old theories meet new.

Submissions

Papers for presentation at the conference will be selected, after peer review, on the basis of abstracts, of no more than 500 words. The abstract should express the purpose, methodology, findings, implications/limitations and originality of the study. Author and affiliation details are to be printed on a separate sheet and the author(s) should not be identified in the abstract.

Sent your abstract to: aalecou@gmail.com

All accepted abstracts will be published online prior to the conference. 
A selection of the Conference papers will be published in an edited volume.