The most important trends in current historiography are focusing their attention on new approaches to cultural history. Thus social history, gender history, intellectual history, history of everyday life, environmental history, history of science or the new political or international history approach similar phenomena from quite different perspectives. In the course of rapid reorganization of global relations after the disappearance of the post-war order many scholars have begun criticizing generalized conceptions within historiography. One of the most important prerequisites for comparative work is communication about the great diversity of culturally defined terms and conceptions. Actually, the H-Net and its system of mailing lists represent the most suitable forum for the above mentioned international orientation of humanities and social sciences.
Mailing lists can also carry the debate beyond the limits of the academic community.
It offers a platform for scholarly discussions, announcements and reports on conferences and research projects, reviews, bibliographical information and special inquiries on historiographical subjects. The subscribers to this mailing list receive news and comments on current matters in historiography by e-mail. This online forum differs from other media in lending itself to more immediate responses as well as to overcoming great spatial distances. As a rule, its subscribers are graduates and postgraduates with an active interest in thematic and methodological questions. Furthermore, the editorial board prevents the dissemination of commercial, incriminating or illegal items.