LAPASEC 2024 examines the historical reception of migrants in Britain, France and Germany from the late 17th to the mid-19th centuries, particularly against the backdrop of ongoing conflicts and migratory movements. It will discuss the aftermath of pivotal events such as the revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685, which triggered international migration of Protestant refugees, and the revolutions of 1848, which were marked by internationalist fervor and political exiles. As societies in Western Europe developed legal frameworks and practical measures to accommodate or reject foreigners, their treatment of migrants endowed with different statuses varied greatly. The French Revolution and post-Congress of Vienna policies led to mass political exile across Europe, highlighting the absence of legal recognition for exiles and the diverse migratory policies of host countries.

LAPASEC 2024 will explore institutional mechanisms and individual case studies, considering shifting perceptions of strangers and foreigners, as well as their impact on transnational sociability. Topics include female sociability, networks such as Huguenots and Jacobites, and representations of strangers in literature and art. Our interdisciplinary approach integrates intellectual history, socio-political contexts, and theological discourse, offering insights into historical and contemporary practices of hospitality and migration.