Call for Papers: Edited Volume on the History of Psychiatry in Communist Europe

We invite proposals for chapters to appear in an edited volume on the history of psychiatry in Communist Europe. Proposals on any topic of psychiatric history during the Communist era are welcomed and should initially take the form of a short 500 word abstract.

The history of psychiatry is one of the most dynamic and well-researched fields within the broader history of medicine. Despite the abundance of work done in this regard, scholarly investigations of the psychiatric developments within Eastern Europe and the former USSR remain relatively rare. The work that has been done, meanwhile, overwhelmingly concentrates on the political misuse of psychiatry within Russia.

This volume seeks to contribute to the wider fields of medical history and the history of Communism more generally. It is interested in compiling research on psychiatry outside of the abuse paradigm but also welcomes contributions that approach the question of political misuse from novel angles. “Psychiatry” in this usage can be loosely defined and could include topics related to abnormal or clinical psychology, psychiatric nursing, neurology, or any other aspect of mental illness. Interested contributors are requested to send a 500 word abstract to the editors outlining the key aspects of their proposed chapter.