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Founded in 1982, the World History Association, through its global community of scholars, educators, and students, nurtures, encourages, and promotes the study of world history as borders disappear, interactions on the globe increase exponentially, and global understanding becomes essential to human future on this planet.
Matteo Ricci, Kunyu Languo Quanto, 1602, commissioned by the Wanji Emperor (Kano Collection, Tohoku University Library, Sendai, Japan)
Welcome to the World History Association
Our annual conference is just a few months away, from June 25-27, 2026. We are gathering in Incheon, South Korea. The papers and panels that have been proposed are simply stellar and offer an opportunity to do a deep dive into the many areas of inquiry currently explored by practitioners of world history.
The especially timely theme of this year's conference is "Closed Borders and Global Connectivity." The conference is organized in partnership with George Mason University Korea and in affiliation with the Academy of Korean Studies.
Join us for a vibrant few days of intellectual exchange, reconnecting with colleagues, and what will no doubt be delicious food and a beautiful setting.
Apply for prizes and scholarships to support your work
Deadlines are approaching SOON!
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Apply for the William H. McNeill Travel Scholarship: due April 1, 2026
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Apply for the World Scholar Travel Fund: due April 1, 2026
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Apply for the World Historian Student Essay Competition: by May 1, 2026
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Apply for the WHA Undergraduate and Graduate Student Paper Prizes: due May 15, 2026
Members invited to submit proposals for the Blooomsbury/WHA Diversity in World History Monograph Prize
Bloomsbury Academic and the World History Association are delighted to announce the Diversity in World History Monograph Prize, in a partnership that seeks to improve the publishing opportunities available for early career scholars in world history, and to diversify the voices of those in the early stages of their career. After our inaugural run in 2023, we're pleased to return in 2026 with a restructured format. This prize will consist of an annual book contract, awarded to the candidate with the best proposal in the field of world history according to external reviews and chosen by a WHA prize committee and Bloomsbury's editorial team.
New curricular modules from H21 offering ways to rethink World History education
H/21, aka History for the 21st Century, is a collaborative project of the World History Association. It’s a cooperative effort by scholars and practitioners to support faculty to introduce today’s students to a deep study of world history. H21 has produced an exemplary series of modules that revolve around key themes in world history. They are inquiry-based and student-centered. They center primary sources and multimedia materials to encourage students to perceive transnational pattens and events in history. H/21 supports faculty teaching any course by offering these peer-reviewed and peer-tested course materials for free.
The World History Association is proud to partner with H/21 to make this important work widely available.
WHA members address the civic value of world history
Consider the current state of World History education. Schools across the United States--from K-14 to colleges and universities--are facing challenges from everything from local school boards constraining what they do to funding cuts that have led to cancelling courses, closing departments, and questioning the importance of robust history education and scholarship at their institutions. Whether it's schools electing to focus on US history, state history, or exclusively some narrowly defined version of western civilization (as opposed to rich programs that expose young people to the wider world and its critical important history and interconnectivity) OR the elimination of area studies' programs, global initiatives, or interdisciplinary studies, it's coming from the same place: a questioning of the value of a deep understanding and appreciation of world history. We recently explored this in a virtual panel discussion on the "Civic Value of World History." Click "learn more" below to watch the recording of this session.
Discounted access to celebrated world history teaching materials for members
Coming soon! Members will be able to access the celebrated innovative curricular materials created by WHA member Bram Hubbell at Liberating Narratives thanks to a 40% discount.
This opportunity is available only to WHA members, one of many member benefits the WHA offers. Join us!
Support the WHA's advocacy of
world history-related issues
We have taken stands, from raising concern about state-level legislation in the United States to constrain curricula to speaking out against scholasticide in Gaza. WHA members are vocal about what they care about and we act on our members' behalf to address critical issues.
Our partners and affiliates
