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Thematic focus
- Economic History
- Other Forms of History Education
- Multi-Perspectivity in History Teaching
- History Didactics / Teaching Practices
Language
English, French
Country
France
Address
Council of Europe, Strasbourg
Date
16 - 17 October 2025
Time
09:30 - 13:00
(GMT+01:00) Paris
Contact
ohte@coe.int
Description
Economics has played a central role throughout history, and the study of economic crises is particularly important for understanding how societies demonstrate resilience and adaptability in times of financial collapse. From the Great Depression of the 1930s to the financial crisis of 2008, and from the monetary crises of the 19th century to those of medieval and ancient times, these events offer vital lessons on risk management, public policies, and the social effects of economic downturns. Teaching about these crises transforms history into a key tool for understanding contemporary challenges. It encourages students to explore multiple perspectives which are essential to grasping the complexity of economic crises and for preventing the repetition of past mistakes. Integrating the study of economic crises into history education helps students sharpen their critical thinking skills, understand the origins and consequences of economic collapse, and analyse contemporary economic issues - preparing them to actively engage in debates about the future of European societies. During its 5th Annual Conference the Observatory on History Teaching in Europe (OHTE) will publish its second Thematic Report on "Economic crises in history teaching" - the result of extensive collaboration with education authorities of the OHTE member states, experts from the Leibniz Institute for Educational Media / Georg-Eckert Institute, under the supervision of the OHTE Scientific Advisory Council. It provides a clear overview of how economic crises – their origins, effects, and societal impacts are taught in secondary-level history education. With one keynote speech (OHTE Talks) and an Oxford style debate (OHTE Debate) involving history students and senior figures in politics and academia, the upcoming OHTE Annual Conference promises to raise the level of discussion on the role of history in understanding the present and shaping the future.
Organiser
Council of Europe