CONVERSATION 1: Transnational

In my research, I draw upon my background in history to apply it to the web. Following this logic, I consider cross-national history as a form of comparative international history, following in the footsteps of Marc Bloch’s comparison (1949) of the phenomenon of Thaumaturgic Kings in France and UK during the Middle Ages. Therefore, a cross-national history of the web would be a comparative study of a common phenomenon, such as comparing the French and English web spheres dedicated to lockdowns. Global history operates on a broader scale, akin to Fernand Braudel’s approach who wrote a history of structures over the long term and the connections between different geopolitical spaces (Braudel, 1958). Thus, a global history of the web would seek to understand observed phenomena by considering the process of globalisation articulated with specific dynamics according to different territories. For example, understanding the phenomenon of the spread of selfie practices on global social networks by studying the differentiated practices across regions. Finally, a transnational approach goes beyond cross-nationalism and draws from global history. It is a history attentive to circulations, particularly cultural ones, and the interconnections between different web spheres. For instance, a transnational history of migrant practices on the web emphasises how the experience of mobility impacts, through interrelation, both the communities of the migrants’ countries of origin and the so-called host societies. The WARCnet project, in fact, served as a platform for exchange and allowed me to discover new interpretations and references regarding these different approaches.