The Untold Stories Behind Financial Crises (1825-2025): Plurality of Causes and Multidimensional Consequences

This workshop will commemorate the bicentennial of the 1825 financial crisis by shedding light on the long-term history of financial crises up to the 21st century. The theme is intentionally broad, welcoming diverse approaches and geographical perspectives.

The 1825 crisis has been often characterized as the first global speculative bubble, driven by foreign investments in Latin America which triggered widespread contagion within the British banking system and across international markets. Studying this crisis allows us to highlight the pivotal role of central banks, particularly the Bank of England, in addressing liquidity crises. Politically, the crisis was closely linked to Britain’s strategic interest in supporting the newly independent Latin American republics, using economic investments to diminish Spanish influence in the region. The crisis was thus rooted in economic, monetary, financial, and political dimensions, which jointly played a critical role to both trigger the process and spread its effects.

This crisis offers an excellent entry point for linking economic history with the history of economic thought, two fields that are drawn closer together by the study of financial, monetary, and banking questions (Rosselli, 2013). More broadly, financial crises typically involve the simultaneous interplay of monetary, financial, banking, and political dimensions, making them outstanding frameworks for multidisciplinary reflection.

​We are particularly interested in contributions that employ multidimensional perspectives, including, but not limited to, economic, financial, managerial, political, sociological, and historical approaches, to analyse various crises. Such interdisciplinary insights can lead to more comprehensive historiographies, enriching our understanding of these complex events.

The Untold Stories workshop seeks to uncover overlooked discussions on financial crises by integrating diverse perspectives from disciplines such as economics, political science, management science, international relations, sociology, and contemporary history. By doing so, we aim to shed light on the complex interplay of expertise, geography, and institutional dynamics that have shaped the history of ideas.

Contributions using a diversity of methodologies and perspectives from different geographical regions are welcome.

Suggested Contribution Topics (Non-Exhaustive)

1. Global Interconnections

• International trade, investment flows, and geopolitical interests linked to financial crises.
• The role of colonialism and decolonization in the spread of economic shocks.

2. The Political Economy of Financial Crises

• Influence of political decisions, power struggles, and legislative frameworks in creation and resolution of conflicts
• Analyzing crises as products of state policy, such as subsidies, trade protectionism, trade wars, tariffs, or financial liberalization.

3. The Evolution of Central Banking

• The historical role of central banks in crisis mitigation and liquidity provision.
• Comparative analysis of central banking approaches across regions and eras.

4. Forgotten Crises: Regional and Peripheral Narratives

• Highlighting overlooked crises in the Global South, Latin America, Asia, or smaller economies.
• The distinct causes and consequences of crises in non-Western financial systems.

5. Financial Crises and Social Change

• The sociological impact of crises on different classes, political and labor movements, and social policies.
• Gendered dimensions of financial crises, including their effect on women’s labor and economic roles.

6. The Role of Experts and Knowledge Systems in Crisis Management

• The influence of “money doctors,” economists, and advisors on policymaking.
• Impact of Crises on the Evolution of Sciences

7. Environmental Crises and Economic Instability

• Exploring connections between natural disasters, climate change, and financial crises.
• The economic consequences of environmental mismanagement or resource-driven speculation.

8. The Managerial Perspective on Financial Crises

• Adaptation of firms’ investment strategies and financial policies during financial crises.
• Organizational behavior of banks during financial crises.

9. Crisis Narratives in Literature, Media, and Popular Culture

• How financial crises have been represented in literature, art, food, film, and journalism.
• The cultural memory of crises and their symbolic meanings.

10. Long-Term Recovery and Historical Lessons

• Case studies of recovery and institutional learning post-crises.
• The resilience of financial systems over time and lessons for modern economies.

Abstract Submission Guidelines

Please submit an abstract with 1,000 words.

When reviewing the abstracts, we will look for theoretical considerations/ assumptions, research questions, methodology, nature of evidence used to draw conclusions, and findings.

We encourage PhD scholars in the final year of writing up their doctoral work, postdoctoral scholars, and early career scholars (within 7 years of their PhD) to submit their abstracts for consideration.

Financial Support

A limited number of travel and accommodation stipends are available for young scholars in the final year of their PhD and within seven years of completing their PhD. The travel stipend may not be enough for intercontinental travel. The possibility of remote participation is being considered.

Organisational details

The one-and-a-half-day workshop is not only open to – but warmly welcomes – the participation of young scholars from all areas of research in the social sciences. The workshop will involve eight young scholars who will have the opportunity to present their papers and enjoy a conversation with peers, as well as two senior scholars, who will deliver one keynote speech each. Each presentation/keynote speech will enjoy a time slot of 30 minutes, plus 30 minutes of Q&A session.

Important dates

Last date for abstract submission: 30 April 2025

Full paper submission deadline: 31 October 2025

Conference: 11-12 December 2025

Scientific Committee

• Alain Béraud, PHARE, Université Paris 1 Panthéon Sorbonne
• Nesrine Bentemessek Kahia, Université Paris Est Créteil, IRG
• Sylvie Diatkine, PHARE, Université Paris 1 Panthéon Sorbonne
• Rebeca Gomez Betancourt, Université Lyon 2, Triangle Research Center
• José M. Menudo, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Séville, Espagne
• Javier San Juliàn, Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Barcelona
• Claire Silvant, Université Lyon 2, Triangle Research Center
• Carlos Eduardo Suprinyak, The American University of Paris 

Organising Committee

• Nesrine Bentemessek Kahia, Université Paris Est Créteil & IRG
• Rebeca Gomez Betancourt, Université Lyon 2, Triangle Research Center
• Kosal Nith, Coordinator, East Asia, INET’s YSI
• Sattwick Dey Biswas, Coordinator, History of Economic Thought, INET’s YSI

Contact for sending abstracts and papers

Nesrine Bentemessek Kahia : nesrine.bentemessek-kahia@u-pec.fr