Against the institutional backdrop of the Émile Durkheim Research Unit: Crisis Analysis, and funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe Programme (Cluster 2 – Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society), the research project “Judicial Cultures of Independence and Their Meaning for the Rule of Law Compliance: Law in Crisis (JCILC)” is launching today. Building on the paradigm developed at the Käte Hamburger Research Centre 'Law as Culture'-which was explicitly highlighted during the evaluation process for this consortium project - we are addressing the disturbing reality of the growing threat to the 'rule of law' and an 'erosion of the law'. This is all the more dramatic given that the European Union has constituted itself as a community based on the 'rule of law', and that one of the often neglected functions of law is to diagnose crises, prevent them where possible, or limit their consequential damage. Consequently, for us - and for the European Commission's funding body - the 'cultural significance' of this issue is beyond question.  The consortium brings together partners from across Europe and beyond, including Werner Gephart, Matthias Herdegen, Ryszard Bobrowicz, Pierre Brunet, Diana Villegas, Marta Bucholc, Lior Barshak and Angela Condello. What sets our approach apart is our collaboration at an international level and the multidisciplinary nature (ranging from law to cultural studies); and the evaluators have expressly emphasised not only the legal-theoretical aspect but also the humanities component when comparing the legal cultural manifestations of 'Rule of Law', 'État de Droit' and 'Rechtsstaat' in Europe. To this end, the project will develop a 'Rule of Law Crisis Framework' and test it in individual country studies, with the aim of developing practical guidelines for an 'early warning system' and also suitable resilience strategies, with potential implications for legal education in Europe. At the Émile Durkheim Research Unit, we are particularly excited to contribute our expertise in crisis analysis and the sociological study of institutions, legitimacy, and social cohesion. The project reflects our commitment to understanding crises not only as moments of disruption, but also as opportunities to rethink the foundations of democratic societies.We look forward to the coming years of collaborative research and exchange with our partners, stakeholders, and wider academic community. Disclaimer: Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. The European Union cannot be held responsible for them.

Introduction: Climate Change as a Crisis of Nature? Contemporary crises appear to affect nearly every aspect of human existence and all spheres of late modernity. The Émile Durkheim Research Unit:Crisis Analysis addresses these central questions of the post-global era, focusing on the comparative-historical analysis of polycrises and metacrises. The aim is to analyze both the inherent logic or rationality of individual crisis spheres and their interconnections—with the goal of making the resulting knowledge available to other societal actors and engaging in dialogue with them. Our inaugural annual theme, "Discourses of Justice: Indicators of Crises?", linked the semantics of crisis with questions of justice, given that crises are increasingly perceived as experiences of social inequality, political powerlessness, or anger regarding living conditions. Last year’s focus on "War as a Crisis of Society" examined the history, present state, and structure of war, as well as the role of technology and the culture of war in processes of societal transformation. This year’s theme builds upon these perspectives by centering on climate change as an overwhelming global—and potentially irreversible—convergence of crises. For anthropogenic climate change is not merely an ecological challenge; it is a crisis that calls into question the foundations of our relationship with nature, with fellow humans and non-humans, with social responsibility, and with our future way of life on planet Earth. The conference proceeds from the insight that this crisis manifests across multiple dimensions and triggers diverse strategies for resolution: in religious and cultural interpretations, in questions of political governance and global responsibility, in economic interests and conflicts, in art, and in normative conceptions of justice and the rights of nature. Reflecting this development, the fundamental question arises once again: how do we wish to live together, and who are we as a society in relation to nature? Climate change thus touches upon the deep-seated structures and dynamics of late-modern social organization, challenging us to redefine the relationship between humanity, nature, and the social order. Program Against this backdrop, the Émile Durkheim Research Unit organized a symposium titled “Climate Change as a Crisis of Nature?”, featuring renowned international guests from various disciplines.

The death of Jürgen Habermas reminds us of the great significance of his theory for understanding today's "crisis of law." His theory of communicative action continues to shape cultural-sociological analyses of law, as are also pursued at the Émile Durkheim Research Center. In view of current threats to the rule of law and international order, his commitment to a democratic legal community in Europe remains pioneering.

We are particularly pleased to once again be able to name a publication from our series ‘Law as Culture’ that has made it into the ‘charts’ as the Book of the Year, as selected by the Juristenzeitung (JZ). This was recently announced at the book fair: Isensee, Josef: Hermeneutics Studies on the Treatment of Normative Texts in Jurisprudence in Comparison to Biblical Theology and Literary Studies 2023. XXVI, 422 pages. Paperback €49.00 ISBN 978-3-465-04607-3 Law as Culture 30, edited by Werner Gephart Also available as an e-book

Raja Sakrani will give in the context of the Summer School Programme: "Citizenship and religious pluralism" the Key Note on the topic on Citizenship and freedom of belief: An impossible pluralism in the Islamic context? As part of the Anawati Chair “Combating Religious Extremism through Interfaith Dialogue,” the Dominican Institute for Oriental Studies in Cairo, in partnership with the University of Insubria (Varese and Como), is organizing a Summer School in July 2025 on the theme of citizenship and religious pluralism. From an interdisciplinary perspective, the Summer School will welcome 25 students enrolled in doctoral studies or having defended their theses in 2023 or 2024, from all the universities and university institutes in the Mediterranean basin that are working on this issue within their discipline (political science, law, history, philosophy, theology, economics)

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

On the occasion of a special webinar hosted by the Sociology Club at Middle East Technical University Ankara (METU), Professor Werner Gephart delivered a thought-provoking lecture titled "Analyzing and Living in a World of Crises: Economy and Migration." The event was attended by approximately 40 students, who actively engaged with Prof. Gephart in a lively question-and-answer session following his presentation.

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.