Imperial Biographies Revisited

Abstract

This article discusses recent developments in biographical research with a focus on protagonists in fin-de-siecle empires. It juxtaposes the approaches of “imperial biographies” and “imperial subjects”, which have been widely discussed by historians in recent years. After elaborating on how empirical studies have applied these and other concepts, the authors conclude that most of these studies choose not to settle on exclusively one approach, instead subscribing to a “methodological pluralism”. The second part of the article therefore reflects on how the concept of the “imperial biography” might be relevant for future biographical research. The authors propose a number of modifications to the core ideas of the imperial biography, including a broadening of the target group being studied, a focus on trans-local personal networks and increased use of digital methods.