DFG-Research Unit

We are a group of historians, sociologists, and philosophers at the Universities of Erfurt, Jena, and Oldenburg, plus a number of associated scholars around the globe. Together, we form the interdisciplinary Research Unit on Voluntariness, funded by the German Research Foundation (FOR 2983) since 2020. The variety of our individual research projects underscores the power, significance, and transformations of voluntariness from the Middle Ages to the present.

Our Projects   |   2024-2027

Philosophy   |   History   |   Sociology

Voluntariness, Democracy, and Climate Politics

Practical Philosophy
Tilo Wesche, Philipp Schink
Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg

Voluntariness, Decolonization, and Gender

Global History
Iris Schröder, Gifty Nyame Tabiri
University of Erfurt

Voluntariness and Solidarity in the GDR

Recent German History
Carsta Langner
University of Erfurt

Voluntariness Behind the Scenes

Political Sociology
Silke van Dyk, Stefanie Graefe, Philipp Lorig
Friedrich Schiller University Jena

Voluntariness, Self-Care, and Health in the US around 1865

North American History
Jürgen Martschukat
University of Erfurt

Voluntariness and the Repatriation of Human Remains from Colonial Contexts

Global History | North American History
Silvan Niedermeier
University of Erfurt

Voluntariness and Repatriation

Recent Global History
Florian Wagner
University of Erfurt

Our Projects   |   2020-2024

Philosophy   |   History   |   Sociology

Antinomies of Voluntariness

Practical Philosophy
Tilo Wesche, Philipp Schink
Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg

Voluntariness as Political Practice

North American History
Jürgen Martschukat, Pia Herzan
University of Erfurt

Voluntariness, Decolonization, and Labor

Global History
Iris Schröder, Carolyn Taratko
University of Erfurt

Voluntariness and Capitalism

Political Sociology
Silke van Dyk, Stefanie Graefe, Philipp Lorig
Friedrich Schiller University Jena

Martyrdom and Voluntariness

Medieval History
Sabine Schmolinsky, Markus Dolinsky
University of Erfurt

Voluntariness and Dictatorship

Recent German History
Christiane Kuller, Elena M. E. Kiesel
University of Erfurt

Voluntariness and Repatriation

Recent Global History
Florian Wagner
University of Erfurt

Our Team

Erfurt   |   Jena   |   Oldenburg

Anne Greule

Affiliated Member Research Unit since 2023

Pia Herzan

Member Research Unit from 2020 to 2024