"Linie 4" - From 'Clans' to Colonialism

In May and June 2023, the public lecture series "Linie 4 - Neues aus der sozialwissenschaftlichen und historischen Forschung" (Line 4 - News from Social Science and Historical Research) will take place for the seventh time, organised by the BGHS in cooperation with the vhs Bielefeld. Four doctoral researchers from the BGHS present their current research in a clear and understandable way and discuss it with visitors to the vhs. The presentations take place every Monday from 6.15-8 p.m. at the vhs Bielefeld in Ravensberger Park.

On 8 May, sociologist Paulo Isenberg will begin with a presentation on attitudes to environmental issues in families. He will explore the question of whether the topic of the environment causes conflicts between generations or rather between milieus. On 22 May, historian Carolin Kaiser will focus on the soldiers of the Reichswehr, the army of the Weimar Republic, and their ideas of masculinity between the claim to power and castration anxiety. On 5 June, historian Catharina Wessing poses the paradoxical question of how colonialism without colonies could come about after the First World War. Using the magazine "Der Deutsche Kulturpionier" as an example, she examines how the authors of the magazine imagined a future for colonies. Sociologist Stella Nüschen will bring the series to an end on 12 June with her contribution on what so-called clans are all about and what the meaning and purpose of the talk about the supposedly criminal families actually is.

The four presentations offer a small insight into the breadth of academic research conducted at the BGHS. As in previous years, however, the main focus will be on the exchange between the young researchers and the audience at the vhs Bielefeld. Vivid presentations, clever follow-up questions and exciting discussions are intended to bring the University and the city of Bielefeld a little closer together.