Institute of Contemporary History (IHC)

The Institute of Contemporary History is dedicated to the study, training and dissemination of modern and contemporary history. It develops an intense activity in the contexts of the conceptualization, contextualization, and interpretation of modern and contemporary historical reality, from the nineteenth century to the present, including the history of the present.

As a general mission, it adopts these aims:

• To develop and promote the study and research of modern and contemporary History, in general, and of the history of Portugal, both in the national and international frameworks, adjusting the principles and priorities of its scientific programme to the training of researchers and the dissemination of their results;
• To contribute to the promotion of historical culture, through projects with a scientific and disseminating nature, using various communication platforms, from conventional publications to new information technologies;
• To intensify the degree and means of internationalisation of research on modern and contemporary history, stimulating exchanges, developing partnerships and networks, and promoting comparative analysis and interdisciplinarity.

Working at the IHC means to be a member of a multicultural, creative, collaborative, and publicly engaged environment that gathers more than 300 researchers. As a modern and contemporary history research unit working on a broad range of themes, we regularly collaborate with the media, museums, archives, city councils, and high schools.