Financing Reconstruction. How can historical insight help? – Call for papers

This meeting will look at historical precedents of financing reconstruction after war and catastrophe. Can historical insight help?

Which are the right questions to ask to successfully reconstruct the infrastructure and economy of a country or region? Should there be a Marshall Plan for Ukraine? Are grants or loans the more effective way to rebuild? Who should pay how much and how? Which is the most effective way to use any given aid to achieve productive development? How much should be organised by the state or international organisations?

In history, how were financial sectors revived? How did banks rebuild their operations once they were bombed out? Where did they find qualified staff? Who created the initial equity? Which was the role of multi-lateral institutions (International Monetary Fund, World Bank, …) Which was the role of the state?

The past offers many examples of cases: Europe after 1945, Afghanistan and Iraq in the 1990s, Haiti after the Earthquakes, Syria, the Middle East after the Arab Spring, to name just a few. We aim to bring together as many examples as possible in order to look at financing reconstruction comparatively.

Are you a researcher working on one of the topics or case studies mentioned above? Are you an archivist holding relevant material on the matter looking for researchers to engage? Are you a banking practitioner ready to share your professional insight to support academia? Please get in touch and apply!

Deadline for submissions is 31 December 2022.