It was a truly insightful and engaging Summer School that we had the pleasure of conducting at our institution from 14.05 to 16.05.2025, conceptualized by Werner Gephart and organized by Jure Leko. Together, we explored the pressing challenges of our time – from climate change, war, and the rise of authoritarian systems to the long-term effects of the pandemic. 💡 Particularly valuable was the engagement with the theories of Émile Durkheim and Pierre Bourdieu, which not only offer historical insights but also allow us to analyze today’s societal challenges in a rigorous way. 📚 Key Highlights of the Week: Introduction to the theoretical foundations of crisis analysis by renowned experts including Werner Gephart (Bonn), Gisèle Sapiro (Paris), Paul Lagneau-Ymonet (Paris), Jörg Blasius (Bonn), and Daria Vystavkina (Bonn/Köln/Odessa).The program offered intensive discussions on theoretical, methodological, and artistic approaches—alongside personal reflections on crisis experiences concerning the definition of pheneomena as crisis loaden, semantics of crisis, explanations and reactions as well as resilience strategies to crises. Practical application of analytical tools to different crisis areas, from politics to economics.🤝 The Summer School provided an interdisciplinary platform for learning, networking, and collaborative research – in an atmosphere of collegial exchange at eye level. 🙏 A heartfelt thank you to all participants, speakers, and to Jure Leko for the seamless organization! We look back on three intensive days filled with input, discussions, and new ideas. 📖 We look forward to continuing the conversation on crisis analysis and resilience, and to future projects. 📸 Meanwhile, take a look at some impressions and contents from our academic exchange here: Photos

After the globally attention-grabbing speech by Vice President J.D. Vance at the Munich Security Conference and the approving endorsement by President Trump, a number of unresolved questions arise for academic observers: How is it possible that the alleged weakening of democracy in European societies, through the supposed erosion of freedom of speech, is seen as a greater danger than Russia's military aggression under Putin, which aims to restore imperial power? And how is it conceivable that this complete miscalculation comes from a political camp that ennobles the storming of the Capitol - the symbol of American democracy - through a subsequent collective pardon of the perpetrators? How can the administration's actions be understood, not only publicly criticizing judges but also making massive interventions in the judicial system, while ideologically placing the president above the law? In Old Europe, we recognize this as a hallmark of absolutist rule. But how can all of this be reconciled with the observations and insights of Alexis de Tocqueville, who studied the particular sociological reasons behind Démocratie en Amérique? Therefore, a re-reading of this great classic of political science and sociology seems worthwhile, in order to better understand today's contradictions and misunderstandings in the interpretation of democracy, which are currently calling into question long-established transatlantic relations – as an expression of a global crisis of this form of domination. To address these questions, we invite you to a panel discussion with renowned international guests. We would be delighted to welcome you to this event.

Die Émile-Durkheim Forschungsstelle: Krisenanalyse nimmt sich der zentralen Frage der Gerechtigkeit der postglobalen Zeit an und legt seinen Schwerpunkt auf die vergleichend-historische Analyse von Poly- und Metakrisen. Dabei gilt es sowohl die Eigenlogik/Eigenrationalität der einzelnen Krisensphären als auch deren Verflechtung zu analysieren – mit dem Ziel, das erzeugte Wissen anderen gesellschaftlichen Akteur:innen zur Verfügung zu stellen und mit ihnen in einen Dialog zu treten.

Im Hinblick auf Homi Bhaba führte der Workshop zu einem intensiven Austausch mit all jenen, die am ehemaligen Käte Hamburger Kolleg zu einer postkolonialen Sicht auf „Recht“ und die Fragen der Gerechtigkeit für den Ort des Rechts und der Normativitäten beigetragen haben.