Roundtable Geschichtliche Grundbegriffe Reloaded? Writing the Conceptual History of the Twentieth Century

The focus of the lexicon Geschichtliche Grundbegriffe and of other studies on conceptual history was primarily on the so-called Sattelzeit (1750-1850). In that vein, more recent collaborative projects in the field of conceptual history have likewise tended to ignore the twentieth century. The aim of this roundtable is to initiate a discussion as to whether a history of German basic concepts of the twentieth century is to be written, and if so, how? The pivotal question in this respect is whether the methodological and theoretical categories Reinhart Koselleck elaborated for the Geschichtliche Grundbegriffe are readily applicable for such a project, or if new starting points need to be identified. Finally, consideration needs to be given to the specific challenges facing a contemporary history of concepts: Is the focus on a single national language still feasible in the age of globalization? How can the plurality of actors and their agency (Eigensinn) be understood conceptually? As a method, does the history of basic concepts remain bound to the epoch for which it was originally conceived?