ROUNDTABLE: IS THE FIELD OF DEINDUSTRIALIZATION STUDIES TOO ONE SIDED?

Oral history has been the primary methodology of the field of deindustrialization studies for the past quarter century. The field is therefore anchored in working-class lives and the lived interior of deindustrialization. In a draft paper, DePOT member Stefan Berger provocatively asks if the field has become too one-sided as a result? He argues that “the field would gain in multi-perspectivity by moving away from its one-sided focus on working-class memories of deindustrialization.” The virtual session will begin with a 15-minute presentation from Stefan Berger and we will then hear from a series of respondents (who have read the paper) for 5-6 minutes each. It will then be opened for questions and comments.

Friday September 26th 2025 at 9:00am eastern time

Register on Eventbrite to get the Zoom link and receive reminder emails ahead of the roundtable!

Chairperson: Steven High (Concordia University)

Presentation: Stefan Berger (Ruhr-Universitaet Bochum)

Respondents: Fred Burrill (University of New Brunswick), Xavier Vigna (University of Paris-Nanterre), Amber Ward (University of St. Andrews), Bharat Sundararajan (University of St. Andrews), Emiliano Aguilar (University of Notre Dame)