The Politics of Voluntariness – Our Lecture Series

Our interdisciplinary lecture series, which we organize together with the Department of History at the University of Erfurt, is dedicated to the broad research field of voluntariness. We have put together an exciting program for the 2022 summer term, themed “The Politics of Voluntariness.”

With guests from sociology, philosophy, and the historical sciences, we will discuss “The Politics of Voluntariness” from different perspectives, for example in relation to a history of modern vaccination programs, to voluntariness in global and local contexts, in the context of volunteering and engagement, or intertwined with concepts such as criminalization or submission.

All events will take place on Wednesdays from 6-8 p.m. (c.t.) on campus, Erfurt University, Audimaxgebäude AMG / 0007. An interested audience is kindly invited to attend on site. In addition, all presentations can also be followed digitally via Webex. If interested one can receive a meeting link in advance. We ask for timely registration with the Research Unit on Voluntariness. If an event cannot be held on site, for example due to the pandemic situation, the respective lecture will only take place digitally via Webex. Information will be announced online in due time.

Programm Lecture Series

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What Else Is New?

Workshop “From Contested Ownership to (In)Voluntary Returns”

On October 24 & 25, 2024, we are happy to present an international workshop in co-operation with colleagues and research projects from Erfurt and Jena. Diverse topics, lectures and a panel discussion by guests from Africa and Europe will share interdisciplinary perspectives on the postcolonial fight for restitution and repatriation.

Research Day Voluntariness

On June 3, 2024, we invite fellow researchers to discuss voluntariness as focus of their research and compare goals and challenges of their projects. The research day will start at 10 am with a casual welcome into a full-day program, completed by an evening lecture by philosopher Jule Govrin.

Voluntariness 2.0 – Local and Global Perspectives

April 2024 has been the official kick-off for another three years of voluntariness research, funded by the German Research Foundation. Seven new or continuing projects will shape the new focus of the research unit’s second funding phase.