Soziologie

Between June and early October 2026, I had the opportunity to present my ongoing research on the careers of circus performers and their relationship to the global labour markets in which they work at four conferences. Each event offered a different perspective on my research and created valuable opportunities for discussion, feedback, and exchange with fellow researchers.

Four Conferences
I began my conference summer at the 10. Feldarbeitstage at TU Dortmund, where I presented my research under the title “Ethnografie einer Branche: Der Zirkus – eine auf Vertrauen basierte, internationale Industrie der Unsicherheit und des Risikos”. I then travelled to Bordeaux to participate in the 38th SASE Conference. In the panel “The Social Order of Global Labour Markets,” chaired by Prof. Karen Shire, I presented my paper “Global Entertainers (from Big Top to Cruise Ship): A Look into the Globality of Labor Markets for Circus Performers”. At the 17th ESA Conference in Warsaw, I presented my research as part of the Work, Employment and Industrial Relations research network. In the panel “Institutions & Employment,” chaired by Barbara Bechter, I gave a presentation entitled “Constructing Careers in Global Labor Markets: The Case of the Circus”. I concluded my conference summer at the 43rd Congress of the German Sociological Association in Mainz. In the AdH93 panel, “Wie sind grenzüberschreitende Arbeitsmärkte möglich? Möglichkeiten und Grenzen der Lösung von Koordinationsproblemen jenseits des Nationalstaates,” chaired by Prof. Ursula Mense Petermann and Prof. Alexandra Scheele, I presented my paper “Global Entertainers (from Big Top to Cruise Ship): Eine Untersuchung über grenzüberschreitende Märkte und mobilitätsbasierte Karrieren von Zirkusartist*innen”.

What I Gained from the Conferences
At each of these conferences, I gained new perspectives on my research and valuable opportunities to develop my ideas through discussions with fellow scholars. The Feldarbeitstage encouraged me to reflect more deeply on ethnographic methods, the materiality of everyday practices, and the role of material objects in circus training and performance. At SASE, discussions about what “global” means in the context of labour markets helped me refine my theoretical approach to transnational employment relations, and attending the other panels broadened my understanding of economic sociology in general. The ESA conference offered further opportunities to exchange ideas with researchers working on the sociology of the arts, employment relations, and spatial mobility. As the intertwining of these three dimensions is central to my case study, this diverse program was particularly beneficial to me. Finally, attending the German Sociological Association’s congress for the first time allowed me to reconnect with familiar faces and discover the breadth of current sociological research in Germany. Across all four events, the feedback and conversations helped me sharpen my research questions, consider new analytical perspectives, and establish contacts that will support my ongoing work. Presenting my research in such varied academic settings also helped me identify connections between my case study and broader sociological debates.

I would like to express my sincere thanks to RTG 2951 for funding my participation in these four conferences. This support made it possible for me to present my research to diverse academic audiences, benefit from valuable feedback, and build connections that will contribute to the further development of my doctoral project.