The workshop “Global Gateways”, organised at the University of Bern on 11 April, examined the dual nature of port cities as both physical and symbolic points of passage. With presentations on the history of Dakar, Hamburg, Philadelphia, and Tokyo, among others, the speakers highlighted how these locations facilitated not only the movement of goods and people but also the shifting dynamics of power, culture, and identity in the last two centuries.
Amélie Jaggi (Bern) wrote a report on the conference and concluded that the workshop showed that “the historical development of port cities in the longue durée makes it possible to assess and contextualise the importance of port cities in the 21st century”.
Read the conference report on infoclio.ch or as a PDF!
Jaggi, Amélie: Global Gateways. Port Cities as Points of Passage, infoclio.ch-Tagungsberichte, 28.5.2025. Online: <https://www.infoclio.ch/de/node/189994/>
