The UQAM Chair in the History of War, held by Benjamin Deruelle, supports original, innovative, and high-quality research and encourages federal and international partnerships. It devotes its activities to the study of war from a historical perspective that is open to other disciplines in the humanities and social sciences. It treats this phenomenon as a major social and historical fact in the history of humanity and strives to better understand current and past societies. It thus goes beyond the history of armies and soldiers to embrace current research themes, in a long-term approach that is both global and intersectional.
Focused on both fundamental research and the training of highly qualified historians, as well as on research partnerships, its results fuel reflection and action in academic, professional, and practical circles. By providing keys to understanding contemporary conflicts, it aspires to help civil society think and act as informed citizens. The first of its kind at both provincial and federal levels, the creation of the UQÀM Chair for the History of War is a crucial step in the development of war studies in Quebec and Canada. It marshals this field and provides an international interface, weaving a network of research groups and centers specialized in the study of war and military events from the academic, museum, and professional worlds. It thus provides a reference point for the analysis and dissemination of academic knowledge to universities, public bodies, international organizations, the private sector, and civil society.
