Past events
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Interdisciplinary Summer School: Crisis Analysis
What We Can Learn from the Classical Theories of Durkheim and Bourdieu Current crises affect nearly all aspects of human existence and all spheres of late modernity. Climate change, war, the rise of authoritarian illiberal democracies, economic crises, the long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and Brexit are just a few examples of these societal challenges. The Émile Durkheim Research Unit: Crisis Analyses is dedicated to addressing these issues of the post-global era and focuses on the comparative-historical analysis of meta-crises. The Émile Durkheim Research Unit invites applications for its upcoming interdisciplinary Summer School. This program aims to introduce students and early-career researchers to the scientific framework of crisis analysis, linking their personal experiences of crisis definition, perception, and resilience strategies to key theoretical perspectives. Kindly include a short motivation letter and a brief CV ( ~150 words ), no longer than one page.© Mauss, Durkheim, Bordieu au croisement des champs 2025 -
Opening Symposium
Welcome to the inaugural symposium of the Émile Durkheim Research Unit at the University of Bonn! This event marks the beginning of a new era of research committed to the principles of internationality, interdisciplinarity and the Fellow Principle. Our aim is to ask new questions and develop solutions in a learning community. The research center is dedicated to the challenges of the 21st century, which manifest themselves in various spheres of crisis, such as climate change, wars, democratic crises, global inequality, digitalization and artificial intelligence. The aim is to bridge the scientific cultures between the humanities, cultural studies and natural sciences and bring them into a fruitful dialog.© Gephart, Rumbrecht -
Discourses of Justice. Indicators of Crises?
Join us for a two-day interdisciplinary workshop exploring how 21st-century crises have shaped a pervasive "crisis of justice," impacting all aspects of society. Across the globe, feelings of resentment, resistance, and anger over living conditions are increasingly framed as issues of injustice. This workshop examines these dynamics through diverse perspectives—philosophical, sociological, and economic—alongside justice debates in politics, gender, climate change, and historical memory. We also delve into the classic tension between legal formalism and substantive justice. Email Thorsten Gerwin (tgerwin@uni-bonn.de) until 03.01.2025 with 2-3 sentences about your background and why you’d like to join. Limited slots available© Privat -
Democracy in America? Re-Reading Alexis de Tocqueville
After Vice President J.D. Vance’s speech at the Munich Security Conference and President Trump’s endorsement, key questions arise: How can the supposed erosion of free speech in Europe be seen as a greater threat than Russia’s military aggression? How does the same political camp that pardons Capitol riot perpetrators justify placing the president above the law while intervening in the judiciary? In Old Europe, such actions resemble absolutist rule. How does this align with Tocqueville’s Democracy in America, which explores democracy’s sociological foundations? A re-reading of this classic may help clarify today’s contradictions, which challenge transatlantic relations and reflect a broader crisis of democracy. To explore these pressing issues, we invite you to a panel discussion with renowned international experts. We look forward to welcoming you.© Privat