Soziologie

Kurzfilm: What Is Temporal Colonialism?

Soziologie — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 13:30:47 +0200

Ein aktueller Kurzfilm aus dem Projekt Futures of Difference widmet sich dem Begriff des Temporal Colonialism – der Idee, dass koloniale Macht nicht nur räumlich, sondern auch zeitlich wirksam ist. Im Zentrum steht die Frage, wie Fortschritt, Entwicklung und Zukunft als normative Maßstäbe eingesetzt werden, um Gesellschaften hierarchisch einzuordnen.

Der Film zeigt, wie bestimmte Gruppen oder Regionen entlang einer vermeintlich universalen Zeitachse als „zurückgeblieben“ oder „noch nicht so weit“ markiert werden – und wie solche Zeitordnungen politische und epistemische Machtverhältnisse stabilisieren. Der knapp gehaltene Beitrag eignet sich gut als Diskussionsimpuls für Lehrveranstaltungen und Debatten zu Postkolonialismus, Zeitsoziologie und globalen Ungleichheiten.

Der Beitrag stammt von Thomas Faist aus unserer Fakultät für Soziologie.

Zum Kurzfilm

Helga Volkening verstorben

Soziologie — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 13:10:56 +0200

Frau Helga Volkening, langjährige Mitarbeiterin am Arbeitsbereich Soziologische Theorie/Allgemeine Soziologie der Bielefelder Fakultät für Soziologie, ist in der Nacht vom 27. auf den 28. Juni in Bad Driburg verstorben.

Frau Volkening hatte in ihrer Heimatstadt Minden eine Buchhändlerlehre absolviert und las gern literarische Werke. Seit 2000 stand sie im Dienst unserer Fakultät. Als Sekretärin betreute sie u. a. Rudolf Stichweh, Klaus Lichtblau, Bettina Heintz, Tobias Werron, Rainer Schützeichel und Volker Kruse. Sie wurde als engagierte, verlässliche, belesene, mitdenkende, antizipierende Mitarbeiterin und Kollegin, die sich nicht aus der Ruhe bringen ließ, sehr geschätzt. Sie selbst hat immer wieder betont, wie wohl sie sich in der Fakultät gefühlt habe.

Nach dem Eintritt in den Ruhestand 2022 verschlechterte sich der gesundheitliche Zustand von Frau Volkening. Ihr letztes Lebensjahr verbrachte sie in einem Pflegeheim in Bad Driburg.

Neue Ausgabe der Zeitschrift für Soziologie – Band 55, Heft 2 erschienen

Soziologie — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 11:56:01 +0200

Der aktuelle Band 55, Heft 2 der Zeitschrift für Soziologie ist erschienen.

Die Beiträge dieser Ausgabe widmen sich zentralen Fragen politischer Soziologie, Gewaltforschung, Transformations- und Vertrauensforschung sowie migrationsbezogenen Bildungsungleichheiten. Damit greift das Heft sowohl grundlegende theoretische Debatten als auch empirische Analysen zu gegenwärtigen gesellschaftlichen Entwicklungen auf.

Beiträge in Band 55, Heft 2

Das Heft umfasst folgende Beiträge:

Thomas Kron: Gewalt jenseits der Grauzone. Zur Kritik der ‚reflexiven Gewaltforschung'
Steffen Mau, Thomas Lux, Julian Heide: Der lange Schatten der DDR? Zum Zusammenhang von ehemaliger Systemnähe und aktuellen politischen Orientierungen von Ostdeutschen
Florian Buchmayr: Politisches Institutionenvertrauen im Wandel. Eine Längsschnittanalyse mit Daten des ALLBUS
Alexandra Manske: Machtkämpfe hinter den Kulissen
Hannah Glinka, Melanie Olczyk: Educational Expectations in the Context of Migration and Institution.

Zugriff und Veröffentlichung

Das Heft erscheint als Printausgabe. Über die Website des Verlags besteht zudem die Möglichkeit, auf die einzelnen Beiträge online zuzugreifen.

“An Opportunity to Deepen Perspectives on Migration Policy”. RTG 2951 Doctoral Researcher Ardita Osmani on Her Research Stay and Writing Retreat in Spain

Soziologie — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 10:53:15 +0200

Since April 2024 I am an associated researcher of the Research Training Group (RTG 2951) “Cross-Border Labour Markets”, based at the University of Duisburg-Essen. Early this summer with the support by the RTG 2951, I participated in two pivotal academic events in Spain: an intensive writing retreat in Barcelona and the 23rd Annual Conference of the International Migration Research Network (IMISCOE).

Diving Into Street-Level Bureaucracy: The Barcelona Writing Retreat

Academic writing requires dedicated time away from daily administrative tasks and other interruptions. From June 25 to 26, 2026, I attended a specialized writing retreat at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) in Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain. The event was organized by the IMISCOE Standing Committee on Migration Politics and Governance (MIGPOG) alongside the TransDeM Research Group (Transnational Relations, Democratization, and Migration) at UAB.

The retreat provided a highly supportive environment tailored specifically to the theme of Street-Level Bureaucracy in Migration Policy. The focus is on how frontline actors, such as border control workers, immigration officials, and social workers, shape migration governance through their everyday discretion, informal adaptations, and decision-making at the interface between the state and migrants.

Analyzing these frontline practices as institutional gatekeepers highlights how their discretionary choices indirectly impact the operational rules and realities of cross-border employment. Through structured writing blocks and peer-to-peer exchanges with international scholars, the retreat offered an invaluable space to refine core theoretical arguments regarding how frontline execution acts as a critical institutional enabler (or barrier) within transnational labor geographies. For doctoral researchers working on complex global phenomena, these collaborative spaces are essential for moving seamlessly from intensive field data to rigorous sociological analyses.

Beyond the intensive writing blocks, the retreat also offered an incredible opportunity for networking and engaging with more senior researchers who brought diverse disciplinary perspectives. This rich diversity within the group provided highly valuable learning moments, shedding light on the writing processes behind different types of scientific products and helping early career researchers navigate academic publishing better.

Presenting Research at 23rd IMISCOE Conference 2026

Following the retreat, my academic journey continued at the 23rd Annual Conference of the International Migration Research Network (IMISCOE), which took place from June 29 to July 2, 2026. Hosted by the Migratory Movements Group at the University of Girona under the overarching theme "Strengthening Migration Studies through Community Engagement," the conference brought together hundreds of international migration scholars, both online and on-site in Catalonia.

As one of the largest global gatherings of migration researchers, the venue provided an ideal platform to align the RTG’s focus on cross-border labor dynamics with contemporary discourses on global migration.

On Wednesday, July 1, I presented my paper online within the panel titled "Understanding Labour Migration: Recent Dynamics and Tensions." The panel brought together scholars to examine the shifting dynamics of labor migration, focusing closely on the sharp tensions that emerge between labor market demands, political exclusion, migrants’ rights, and agency. By exploring how states respond to demographic pressures and severe labor shortages while simultaneously engineering differentiated forms of inclusion, the panel closely mirrored the intellectual heart of the RTG 2951 project.

The presentation sparked vibrant discussions, offering insightful feedback from international peers and senior scholars. Beyond the presentation panels, the conference was an excellent opportunity to network, explore cutting-edge methodologies in migration studies, and strengthen ties between the RTG 2951 research network and the broader international migration research community in Germany.

Vacancy - PhD Position in DFG Project "Close Encounters: Development, Aspiration, and Intimate Politics among the Hmong of Laos and China” (Deadline 08 August)

Soziologie — Tue, 14 Jul 2026 15:08:43 +0200

We are pleased to announce a doctoral position as part of the DFG research project “Close Encounters: Development, Aspiration, and Intimate Politics among the Hmong of Laos and China” (2026–2029), led by Phill Wilcox, a researcher in social anthropology at the Department of Sociology at Bielefeld University.

Funded by the DFG, Close Encounters is an anthropological enquiry into the politics of intimacy and development between the Hmong of Laos and China. It seeks to understand what the politics of intimacy reveals about how Hmong youth develop their own lives and how far the politics of intimate connections mirrors macro level processes of development.

This is a part-time (75%) and fixed-term contract (36 months, until 30.09.2029).

Please refer to the official job postings below for more details:

Interdisciplinary Cooperation at Its Best: RTG 2951 Doctoral Researcher Maria Schäfer on Her Research Stay at the IAB Research Department "Migration and International Labour Studies" (INTER) in Nuremberg

Soziologie — Tue, 14 Jul 2026 13:40:03 +0200

Between September and December 2025, I had the opportunity to step outside my usual academic environment in Bielefeld and spend three months as a guest researcher at the Institute for Employment Research (IAB) in Nuremberg. Looking back, it was one of the most formative experiences of my PhD so far - professionally, because it opened the door to an entirely new dataset and research community, and personally, because it broadened my perspective on interdisciplinary collaboration.

Support from RTG 2951 for Interdisciplinary Cooperation

The research stay was made possible through the support of the Research Training Group (RTG) 2951, Cross-Border Labour Markets: Transnational Market Makers, Infrastructures, Institutions, where I have been a doctoral researcher since December 2024. Within the RTG's interdisciplinary environment, I pursue my doctoral research in Economics, examining how social capital, migration, and labor market institutions shape educational choices, migration decisions, and labor market outcomes.

As part of its interdisciplinary lecture series, RTG 2951 had previously invited Prof. Dr. Yuliya Kosyakova from the IAB as a guest lecturer and established her as one of the RTG's cooperation partners. This laid the foundation for an interdisciplinary collaboration between Sociology and Economics in the field of migration and labour market research. My research stay represented another important step in strengthening and expanding this cooperation.

Beyond providing a vibrant interdisciplinary environment for early-career researchers, RTG 2951 also provided the financial support that made this research stay possible.

A Spontaneous Yes

The story of how this research stay came about is, in many ways, my favorite part. Several months before it began, my supervisor, Prof. Dr. Anna Zaharieva, casually asked whether I would be interested in spending some time conducting research with the team of Prof. Dr. Yuliya Kosyakova at the IAB, I hardly needed a moment to think about it. My response was simply: "My bags are already packed." Looking back, that spontaneous answer turned out to be one of the best decisions of my PhD.

Breaking New Ground with the IMPa Data

One of the main reasons I was so excited about the stay was the opportunity to work with a dataset I had admired from afar: the International Mobility Panel of Migrants (IMPa), a survey conducted by the IAB. IMPa provides a unique and rich data source for studying the dynamics of international migration.

What made the experience particularly special was the opportunity to become the first external researcher granted access to the IMPa data. This came with a certain responsibility, but it also reflected the trust the INTER team placed in me. Their generosity in introducing me to the dataset, explaining its complexities, and helping me navigate it allowed me to get up to speed remarkably quickly.

From a Research Stay to a Lasting Collaboration

One of the most rewarding outcomes of my time at the IAB is that it did not end when the stay itself came to a close. During those three months, a new research idea emerged that has since developed into a joint project with sociologist Dr. Annette Jacoby from the IAB. In this project, we examine why some migrants leave Germany while others stay, focusing on how social capital and perceived discrimination influence emigration intentions.

To me, this illustrates one of the greatest benefits of a research stay: the value of a research stay isn't limited to the three months on site! It often continues to pay off long after you've packed your bags to go home. The conversations, ideas, and connections established during those months continue to shape my research long after returning home.

Feeling Part of the Team

Beyond the data and the research, what I will remember most is the atmosphere within INTER – the IAB's Department on Migration and International Labour Studies. From my very first day, I felt genuinely welcomed as part of the team. The academic exchange was both stimulating and supportive: colleagues took the time to discuss ideas, challenge assumptions, offer constructive feedback, and provide help whenever I encountered difficulties.

In addition to advancing my own project, I attended several seminars, workshops, and research presentations organized by the IAB and collaborating institutes. These events exposed me to current research, broadened my methodological knowledge, and inspired new ideas that will inform my future work.

This combination of intellectual curiosity, openness, and genuine collegiality created an environment in which interdisciplinary research could truly flourish. It is something I deeply appreciated and certainly do not take for granted.

Looking Ahead

Three months can feel both long and remarkably short. They are long enough to build meaningful collaborations, develop new research ideas, and make substantial progress, yet far too short to explore everything an institution like the IAB and its researchers have to offer

I returned to Bielefeld with access to an exciting new dataset, a collaborative paper underway, and a greatly expanded professional network. Even more importantly, I returned with fresh perspectives on interdisciplinary research and new ideas that will continue to shape my doctoral work.

My sincere thanks go to the entire INTER team for their warm welcome, inspiring discussions, and the sense of belonging I felt from my very first day. I am especially grateful to Prof. Dr. Anna Zaharieva for encouraging me to take this opportunity in the first place, without her encouragement, my bags might never have been packed. I also thank RTG 2951 for generously funding the research stay and everyone at the IAB who made these three months such a rewarding and unforgettable experience.

"An Opportunity to Build International Collaborations”. RTG 2951 Doctoral Researcher Duaa Kattana on Her Research Stay at the Adam Smith Business School, University of Glasgow

Soziologie — Tue, 14 Jul 2026 10:02:24 +0200

From 27 April to 15 June 2026, I had the opportunity to spend seven weeks as a Visiting Doctoral Researcher at the Adam Smith Business School, University of Glasgow. As a PhD researcher in Labor Economics and Migration Economics at the Research Training Group (RTG) 2951, Cross-Border Labour Markets: Transnational Market Makers, Infrastructures, Institutions, University of Duisburg-Essen, this research stay provided an excellent opportunity to advance my research while experiencing a highly international academic environment.

Hosted by Professor Michele Battisti in the Department of Economics, I continued working on my research project “The Labor Market Effect of Cross-Border Commuters: Evidence from EU Enlargement,” and benefited from regular discussions with faculty members and fellow researchers. These exchanges provided valuable feedback, helping me refine my research and consider new perspectives.

The research stay was made possible through the support of the Research Training Group (RTG) 2951, Cross-Border Labour Markets: Transnational Market Makers, Infrastructures, Institutions, where I started as one of the two doctoral researchers from economics in the first cohort in April 2024. Within the RTG's interdisciplinary environment, I pursue my doctoral research in economics, in the fields of Labor Economics and Migration Economics. As part of its interdisciplinary lecture series, RTG 2951 had previously invited Professor Michele Battisti as a guest lecturer and had thus initiated this cooperation with the Adam Smith Business School, University of Glasgow.

A particular highlight was presenting my research during a PhD reading group session at the Adam Smith Business School. The constructive comments and engaging discussion offered valuable insights that helped me further improve my project, through refining my research questions and strengthening the overall direction of my project.

In addition to my own research, I attended several seminars and workshops organized by the department. One of the highlights was the Advanced Workshop on Contemporary Causal Panel Methods, delivered by Professor Scott Cunningham from 18 to 22 May 2026. The workshop introduced modern causal inference methods that are highly relevant for empirical research in labor economics and provided practical insights that I look forward to applying in my own work.

Beyond the academic activities, I greatly appreciated the welcoming and collaborative research culture at the University of Glasgow. The excellent library and study spaces provided an ideal environment for productive research and academic exchange.

Living in Glasgow was another rewarding aspect of the experience. The city's rich history, vibrant cultural life, and friendly atmosphere made it an enjoyable place to live during my stay. Experiencing a different academic and cultural environment broadened my perspective both personally and professionally.

Overall, this research stay strengthened my research skills, expanded my academic network, and provided valuable methodological insights that will benefit the remainder of my PhD and my future research. I would highly recommend an international research stay to other doctoral researchers, as it offers not only academic development but also the opportunity to build international collaborations and gain new perspectives.

New Journal Article by Hairuo Jin in Economy and Society

Soziologie — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 14:17:48 +0200

A new journal article by Hairuo Jin titled 'Financial charts in everyday speculation: Mobile-app trading among retail investors in the Chinese stock market' has been published in Economy and Society.

The article can be read here.

Abstract:

Retail investors in China increasingly trade through mobile apps that stream prices, charts and alerts. Based on 15 months of ethnographic research across online groups and in-person follow-ups in multiple cities, I demonstrate how everyday speculation is sustained by practices grounded in structured market information in online trading apps. Instead of valuing firms, investors speculate graphically, treating charts as living maps that fold past traces, present ticks and imagined futures. I argue that these practices constitute a mode of reasoning for plausible market paths within the shifting spaces left by sizable market-making funds and regulatory interventions. The paper offers a culturally contextualized account of everyday speculation in a political economy in which regulators and political powers are read alongside visual, relational and situated indicators within China’s state-shaped market structure.

Reference:

Jin, H. (2026). Financial charts in everyday speculation: Mobile-app trading among retail investors in the Chinese stock market. Economy and Society, 1–24. https://doi.org/10.1080/03085147.2026.2668807

Two new CIDAPE articles published

Soziologie — Thu, 9 Jul 2026 20:46:07 +0200

Sonja Blum and Nora Habelitz have published two new articles as part of their research in the Horizon Europe project "CIDAPE" (Climate, Inequality, and Democratic Action: The Force of Political Emotions).

The first article, written together with Johanna Kuhlmann, University of Bremen, is "How Do Policy Narratives Evoke Emotions? An Appraisal-Theoretic Approach". The authors argue that appraisal theory's emotion-process components - such as goal relevance, agency, control, and norm congruence - map onto the structural elements of policy narratives identified by the Narrative Policy Framework (NPF) and can clarify how distinct emotions are evoked in policy narratives. The paper focuses on the emotion of anger and illustrates how anger-driven policy narratives can be empirically analyzed.

The second article titled "Energized? How German and Italian Party Actors Used Emotions in Energy Policy Narratives During the 2024 Elections" was co-authored with Fabienne Lind, University of Vienna. Drawing on social media data from the CIDAPE project and applying specific emotion dictionaries, the article investigates how German and Italian parties used emotions in energy policy communication during the 2024 European Parliament elections. Findings show a dominance of "positive" emotions ("affinity" and "compassion"), with however notable differences between parties' narrative emotionalization strategies.

Both articles are open access and emerged from Work Package 2 at Bielefeld University, which investigates emotional policy narratives around climate policy and their inequality dimension.

Blum, S., Kuhlmann, J., & Habelitz, N. (2026). How Do Policy Narratives Evoke Emotions? An Appraisal-Theoretic Approach. Policy Studies Journal, e70135. https://doi.org/10.1111/psj.70135

Habelitz, N., Lind, F., & Blum, S. (2026). Energized? How German and Italian Party Actors Used Emotions in Energy Policy Narratives During the 2024 EU Elections. European Policy Analysis, 12(3), e70048. https://doi.org/10.1002/epa2.70048

RTG 2951 Doctoral Researchers Invited to DFG's RTG connect 2026

Soziologie — Thu, 9 Jul 2026 12:41:14 +0200

We are pleased to announce that Duaa Kattana, doctoral researcher in Economics at the University of Duisburg-Essen, and Elisabeth Schmidt, doctoral researcher in Sociology at Bielefeld University, have been invited to participate in RTG connect, a networking and exchange event organized by the German Research Foundation (DFG).

Both researchers are members of the Research Training Group RTG 2951 "Cross-Border Labour Markets" and have been invited on behalf of the President of the DFG, Professor Katja Becker, to represent the doctoral researchers of the Research Training Group at their universities.

The event will take place in Bonn on 13–14 October 2026 and brings together doctoral researcher representatives from DFG-funded Research Training Groups (RTGs) and International Research Training Groups (IRTGs) across Germany. Held in English, RTG connect provides a platform for discussing key issues affecting doctoral training and collaboration.

The programme will focus on topics including:

Interdisciplinarity in RTGs and IRTGs: experiences, opportunities, and challenges
Participation and involvement of doctoral researchers within RTGs
Mobility conditions in RTGs, with a particular focus on international mobility
"New Work" and cross-institutional collaboration in and among RTGs
Supervision concepts, challenges, and mechanisms for conflict resolution

We congratulate Duaa Kattana and Elisabeth Schmidt on this invitation and wish them productive discussions and valuable exchanges with fellow doctoral researchers from across the RTG community.

WelfareStruggles Journal Article among Global Political Economy’s Most-Cited in 2025

Soziologie — Mon, 6 Jul 2026 16:01:06 +0200

We are happy to announce that the journal article "The privilege of being exploited? Overtime work in global factories of market socialist China and Vietnam” by Minh Nguyen, Ngoc Luong, Yueran Tian and Jake Lin was one of Global Political Economy’s most highly cited articles in 2025.

The article is open-access and can be read here.
To visit the full highly cited article collection, please follow this link.

The article was based on research conducted by the research project WelfareStruggles (2019–2024), which was funded by the European Research Council as a Starting Grant (Grant No. 803614).

Positionalität im Forschungsprozess / Positionality in the Research Process

Soziologie — Thu, 2 Jul 2026 11:23:08 +0200

Positionalität im Forschungsprozess: Vortrag von Heike Greschke und Mei-Chen Spiegelberg beim ZIF

Am 26. Juni hielten Heike Greschke und Mei-Chen Spiegelberg im Rahmen des Workshops „Navigating Research Challenges in Post-Socialist Contexts“ der ZiF Research Group „Postcolonial and Postsocialist Interdependencies Across Borders“ einen Vortrag.

Das Panel, in dem die beiden Wissenschaftlerinnen aus dem AB Mediensoziologie ihren Beitrag präsentierten, widmete sich der methodologischen Reflexion von Positionalität in postkolonialen und/oder postsozialistischen Forschungskontexten. Im Zentrum stand die Frage, wie Forschende ihre eigene Verortung im Forschungsprozess nicht nur ethisch reflektieren, sondern auch analytisch fruchtbar machen können.

Greschke und Spiegelberg stellten hierzu ihren bereits veröffentlichten Ansatz der Autoethnografischen Positionierungsanalyse (APA) vor. Dabei warfen sie zugleich einen kritischen Blick auf die potenzielle Reproduktion makrostruktureller Ungleichheiten - insbesondere dann, wenn etwa ein „positionality statement“ auf eine rein ethische Selbstverortung reduziert wird. Eine solche Verkürzung könne dazu führen, dass globale Asymmetrien zwar benannt, aber nicht hinreichend in ihrer situativen Aushandlung im Forschungsprozess analysiert werden.

Als Beispiel nutzten die beiden deutsch-chinesische Beziehungen, um zu zeigen, wie globale Ungleichheiten in konkreten Forschungssituationen verhandelt werden können. Vor diesem Hintergrund plädierten sie dafür, gerade dissonante, disruptive und unangenehme Momente im Forschungsprozess nicht als Störungen auszublenden, sondern ihren analytischen Mehrwert mithilfe der Positionierungsanalyse zu erschließen.

In der anschließenden Diskussion wurden unter anderem Fragen des „relationship building“ mit Forschungsteilnehmenden und dem Forschungsfeld aufgegriffen. Zudem wurden Bezüge zu weiteren Forschungskontexten hergestellt, die von anderen Vortragenden eingebracht wurden. Dadurch entwickelte sich ein fruchtbarer Austausch darüber, wie Forschende in herausfordernden und asymmetrisch strukturierten Kontexten ihre Beziehungen zum Feld reflektieren und methodologisch einordnen können.

Positionality in the Research Process: Talk by Heike Greschke and Mei-Chen Spiegelberg at ZiF

On 26 June, Heike Greschke and Mei-Chen Spiegelberg gave a presentation as part of the workshop “Navigating Research Challenges in Post-Socialist Contexts” organized by the ZiF Research Group “Postcolonial and Postsocialist Interdependencies Across Borders”.

The panel in which the two scholars from the Media Sociology unit presented their contribution focused on the methodological reflection of positionality in postcolonial and/or postsocialist research contexts. At its core was the question of how researchers can not only reflect ethically on their own situatedness within the research process, but also make it analytically productive.

To this end, Greschke and Spiegelberg presented their already published approach of Autoethnographic Positioning Analysis (APA). At the same time, they critically examined the potential reproduction of macro-structural inequalities - particularly when, for example, a “positionality statement” is reduced to a purely ethical self-positioning. Such a narrowing, they argued, may lead to global asymmetries being named, but not sufficiently analyzed in terms of their situational negotiation within the research process.

The two scholars used German-Chinese relations as an example to show how global inequalities can be negotiated in concrete research situations. Against this backdrop, they argued that dissonant, disruptive, and uncomfortable moments in the research process should not be ignored as disturbances, but rather explored for their analytical value through positioning analysis.

In the subsequent discussion, questions of “relationship building” with research participants and the research field were addressed, among other topics. In addition, connections were made to further research contexts introduced by other speakers. This led to a fruitful exchange on how researchers can reflect on and methodologically situate their relationships with the field in challenging and asymmetrically structured contexts.

First MoCaF Fact Sheet Published

Soziologie — Thu, 2 Jul 2026 11:02:03 +0200

The MoCaF (Mobile Careers and Families) project, led by Prof. Dr. Marcel Erlinghagen and Dr. Lisa Mansfeld at the University of Duisburg-Essen, is part of the DFG-funded Research Training Group RTG 2951 "Cross-Border Labour Markets".

MoCaF investigates the experiences of internationally mobile individuals and their families. Through a large-scale survey, the project explores how couples plan and organise international mobility, the opportunities and challenges associated with living abroad, and how families navigate changing social, cultural, and professional environments across countries.

The project has now published its first fact sheet, which provides an overview of the composition of the MoCaF survey sample.

The fact sheet is available here.

The MoCaF project is embedded in the Research Training Group "Cross-Border Labour Markets", funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) and jointly hosted by the University of Duisburg-Essen and Bielefeld University. The research team also includes Dr. Wiebke Anton and Rhoda Bangerter, who jointly organise the online initiative "Expat Couples Summit". The survey is conducted in cooperation with the Institute for Social Research & Communication (SOKO) in Bielefeld.

As international mobility has become an increasingly common life experience for many people in Europe and North America, understanding its consequences for families and partnerships has gained growing importance. While living and working abroad can create unique opportunities for personal and professional development, it also presents considerable challenges. MoCaF seeks to deepen our understanding of how internationally mobile families experience and manage these opportunities and challenges.

Abschiedskolloquium für Kay-Uwe Junge

Soziologie — Thu, 2 Jul 2026 10:21:13 +0200

Mit dem Ende dieses Semtester verlässt PD Dr. Kay-Uwe Junge den Arbeitsbereich Soziologische Theorie.

Ein kleines Abschiedskolloquium zu seinen Ehre findet am 17.07.2026 ab 14 Uhr statt. Vortragen werden unter anderem Wolfgang-Ludwig Schneider (Osnabrück), Heinz Messmer (Basel) und André Kieserling (Bielefeld). Genauere Angaben folgen in Kürze.

Debatte Krieg oder Freundschaft? Die politische Ökonomie der deutsch-französischen Beziehungen im Militärkeynesianismus

Soziologie — Wed, 1 Jul 2026 13:04:19 +0200

Prof. Dr. Kai Koddenbrock führt im Blog "Wissenschaft und Frieden" eine Debatte zum "Krieg oder Freundschaft? Die politische Ökonomie der deutsch-französischen Beziehungen im Militärkeynesianismus".

Maritime Arbeit, Militarisierung & Migration

Soziologie — Wed, 1 Jul 2026 12:50:00 +0200

Am 15. September 2026 findet um 10:00 Uhr die Veranstaltung „Maritime Arbeit, Militarisierung & Migration“ im Rahmen der LABOR.A® der Hans-Böckler-Stiftung statt.

Weltweit werden etwa 90 Prozent aller Güter über die Seefahrt transportiert. Daher beeinflussen nahezu alle globalen sozialpolitischen und wirtschaftlichen Entwicklungen die Arbeit in maritimen Infrastrukturen. Beschäftigte wie Seeleute und Hafenarbeiter:innen sind direkt von „Schattenflotten“, Pandemien, militärischen Konflikten und veränderten Migrationsregimen betroffen. Oft werden ihre Herausforderungen übersehen oder sie erfahren Abwertung und Entmenschlichung. In dieser Sitzung stellen wir die Fragen: Wie können wir die Situation der maritimen Arbeiter:innen verbessern? Welche Schritte sind notwendig, um Fairness, Solidarität und gute Arbeit für die Zukunft zu gewährleisten?

Moderiert wird die Veranstaltung unter anderem von Anne Engelhardt, die als wissenschaftliche Mitarbeiterin in der AG Koddenbrock tätig ist.

Understanding Germany in Times of Genocide: Franz Neumann and the Ongoing Question of Imperialism

Soziologie — Wed, 1 Jul 2026 09:31:20 +0200

Vortrag von Kai Koddenbrock zum Thema "Understanding Germany in Times of Genocide: Franz Neumann and the Ongoing Question of Imperialism"

Deutschland, geprägt von seiner nationalsozialistischen Vergangenheit und der Unterstützung der aktuellen israelischen Regierung, ist ein wichtiges Thema für akademische Analysen und politische Interventionen. Die Beziehung der deutschen Regierung zur extremen Gewalt stellt eine große Herausforderung für die Sozialwissenschaften dar. Historisch wurde Deutschland während des Nationalsozialismus zu einem Zentrum für Theorien zu Imperialismus, Faschismus und Antisemitismus.

Heute dominiert eine liberale Analyse, die diese kritische Tradition ignoriert. In Anbetracht steigender Rüstungsinvestitionen und des Aufstiegs der AfD untersucht Kai Koddenbrocks Vortrag, wie alte und neue Theorien von Faschismus und Imperialismus das aktuelle deutsche „Modell“ erklären können. Dabei wird gefragt, wie Deutschland sich weniger gewalttätig organisieren kann.

Kai Koddenbrock ist Professor für Internationale Beziehungen und Politische Ökonomie an unserer Fakultät und beschäftigt sich mit Themen wie Souveränität und globale Machtverhältnisse.

Der Vortrag findet am 08.07.2026 um 16:30 am Max-Planck-Institut für Gesellschaftsforschung in Köln statt.

Weitere Informationen

Podcast zum Thema Geld mit Kai Koddenbrock

Soziologie — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 13:35:13 +0200

In der biodiversen Verde Island Passage in den Philippinen, auch bekannt als der „Amazonas der Ozeane“, ist der Ausbau von Flüssigerdgas-Terminals geplant. Diese Projekte werden unter anderem von Banken wie der Deutschen Bank aus dem Globalen Norden finanziert. Umwelt- und Menschenrechtsorganisationen, wie das philippinische CEED und der deutsche Verein „urgewald“, setzen sich gegen diese umweltschädlichen Investitionen ein.

In der Podcastfolge 7 des Podcasts "Die AnStifter - Eine Welt. Viele Wege" berichten CEED-Leiter Gerry Arances und „urgewald“-Campaignerin Klara Butz über die Konsequenzen dieser Projekte und deren bisherigen Erfolge. Zudem wird untersucht, welches globale Ungleichgewicht durch das Projekt sichtbar wird. Im Interview erläutert Professor Koddenbrock, Experte für Internationale Beziehungen und Politische Ökonomie an der Universität Bielefeld, die finanziellen Abhängigkeiten und das wirtschaftliche Verhältnis zwischen dem Globalen Norden und Süden.

New Journal Article 'Balancing in Brazzaville: Urban Congolese Perspectives on Hedging Chinese and French Influences’ by Phill Wilcox

Soziologie — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 12:33:16 +0200

PD Dr Phill Wilcox has published a journal article entitled 'Balancing in Brazzaville: Urban Congolese Perspectives on Hedging Chinese and French Influences’ in Global Africa. The full article can be found open access here

Abstract:

In Congo, the influence of the former colonizer France, is challenged increasingly by China. This phenomenon, concerning how weaker states manage different international influences, has led to a valuable influx of literature on hedging. However, such literature does not yet recognize that hedging is not only relevant to international relations but also applicable to everyday practices. This paper investigates how urban aspiring Congolese participate in hedging as they create futures in which Chinese and French influences are prominent and may conflict. It contends that the Congolese population, particularly the middle class, engages with French and Chinese influences in ways that simultaneously demonstrate cooperation and reservation. The paper thus reframes the notion of hedging, illustrating how we can move beyond top-down stereotypes of China as a neo-colonizer, and French influence hanging on in places such as Congo. It sheds light on how hedging and pragmatism are central features of everyday encounters with China and France.

Reference:

Wilcox, P. (2026). Balancing in Brazzaville: Urban Congolese Perspectives on Hedging Chinese and French Influences. Global Africa, 14, pp. .

Gastvortrag von Nahed Samour online

Soziologie — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 10:14:52 +0200

Am 2. Juni 2026 um hielt Nahed Samour im Rahmen der Vorlesungsreihe „Signaturen der Weltgesellschaft“ des Instituts für Weltgesellschaft einen Gastvortrag über „die Zukunft der Deutschen Nahostpolitik und des Völkerrechts“.

Dieser kann jetzt online abgerufen werden.

Interview with RTG 2951 Doctoral Researcher Mariana Gomes is now online!

Soziologie — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 10:39:15 +0200

In this new film from the BGHS film project "On People and Things - Science in Conversation", RTG 2951 Doctoral Researcher Mariana Gomes (Sociology) speaks about her research project on the situation of Brazilian au-pairs in Germany.

During her field research, she has spent a lot of time with young Brazilian women in Brazil and Germany and talked to them about their expectations and experiences of working as an au-pair.

And here is the video!

12th Global Migration Lecture

Soziologie — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 11:45:42 +0200

12th Global Migration Lecture: Prof. Dr. Manuela Boatcă on Citizenship and Colonial Legacies in the Caribbean (hybrid event)

On 6 July 2026, the Research Training Group RTG 2951 invites scholars, students, and interested members of the public to the 12th Global Migration Lecture, featuring Prof. Dr. Manuela Boatcă (University of Freiburg). The lecture, entitled “Non-Sovereignty and the Coloniality of Citizenship in the Caribbean,” will take place from 16:00 to 17:45 CET at Bielefeld University and online via Zoom.

In her presentation, Boatcă examines how colonial power relations continue to shape contemporary citizenship and mobility rights in the Caribbean. Focusing on the Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programmes of five former British colonies—Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, and St. Lucia—she explores how citizenship has become a tradable asset within a deeply unequal global system. The lecture sheds light on the intersections of sovereignty, migration, and global inequality from a decolonial perspective.

Following the lecture, an interdisciplinary discussion will bring together experts from Bielefeld University and the University of Duisburg-Essen, before opening the floor to questions from the audience.

Prof. Dr. Manuela Boatcă is Professor of Sociology and Head of the Global Studies Programme at the University of Freiburg. Her research focuses on global inequalities, citizenship, decolonial theory, and the geopolitics of knowledge.

The event is organised jointly by InZentIM, CGCR, and RTG 2951.

Programme

Registration

International Conference "The Anthropology of Vietnam: Global Perspectives" Bringing Together Generations of Scholars and Forging International Outlook

Soziologie — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 11:30:49 +0200

The international conference The Anthropology of Vietnam: Global Perspectives happened last week week from 16 to 19 June at Dalat University, Vietnam. The conference welcomed more than 150 researchers, experts, graduate and undergraduate students from countries all over the world, including United States (US), Germany, Denmark, Canada, Australia, France, the Czech Republic, Ireland, the Netherlands, Japan, Israel, Switzerland and Vietnam.

The conference was organised by the Department of Social Work – Anthropology – Sociology of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City) (USSH-VNUHCM), in collaboration with Dalat University, University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Vietnam National University Hanoi), and the Institute of Anthropology and Religious Studies. It was supported by distinguished international academic institutions, including the Wenner-Gren Foundation, Yale University (US), Copenhagen University (Denmark), and Bielefeld University (Germany).

Moreover, the conference marked a historical moment, as it recalled the 2007 Binh Chau Anthropolgy Conference, a milestone collaboration between USSH-VNUHCM and the University of Toronto (Canada), which fostered for the research and teaching of the anthropology discipline in Vietnam. Over the past two decades, what began as a forum to "initiate dialogue" had evolved into a platform that amplified the voices of multiple generations of anthropologists, reflecting continuity and growth.

Speaking at the conference, Professor Ngo Thi Phuong Lan (President of USSH-VNUHCM) expressed the need for an international outlook: "We [Vietnam] used to be an attractive field site in the eyes of international scholars. As we approach our 25^th anniversary, we have the right and the responsibility to thrive for more. Our ambitions should extend beyond a receptive approach of an ‘anthropology about Vietnam.' We should strive to make theoretical, methodological, and conceptual contributions 'from Vietnam to the anthropology of the world.' This is the duty of the current generation and the goal for the future."

The full program of the conference can be viewed here. USSH-VNUHCM has also made an announcement about the conference, which is available in Vietnamese and English.

Photos by USSH-VNUHCM.

RTG 2951 Postdoctoral Researcher Sandhya A.S. publishes New Book on Migration Brokerage

Soziologie — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 14:03:07 +0200

RTG 2951 postdoctoral researcher Sandhya A.S. has published a new book, Agents of Migration: Institutional Embeddedness of Labour Brokerage in Nepal. (Palgrave Macmillan Singapore).

The book examines the expanding role of migration intermediaries in facilitating labour migration and offers a fresh perspective on the institutional foundations of migration brokerage. Drawing on insights from economic sociology, it challenges interpretations that view brokerage merely as a by-product of neoliberal capitalism or as the principal cause of migrant precarity. Instead, the study conceptualizes migration brokerage as an institutionally embedded and contested market for migration services. Focusing on the case of Nepal, the book investigates why migration agents have developed into a durable industry, how brokerage aligns with the interests of labour-exporting and remittance-dependent states, and why intermediaries continue to play a central role despite the expansion of migrant networks and state-led recruitment mechanisms. By analysing market organization, the institutionalization of brokerage practices, and struggles over market legitimacy, the book contributes new insights into migration intermediation, migrant labour processes, and the governance of cross-border labour markets.

A.S. S. Agents of Migration. Institutional Embeddedness of Labour Brokerage in Nepal. Singapore: Springer Nature; 2026.

Niklas Luhmanns Theorie des Erziehungssystems aus dem Nachlass publiziert

Soziologie — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 13:51:34 +0200

"Vom lernenden Schüler her gesehen ist der Unterricht eine lehrerhaltige Umwelt, in der Lernen einer seiner Anpassungsstrategien ist."

Aus dem wissenschaftlichen Nachlass Niklas Luhmanns ist jetzt ein umfangreiches Manuskript zur Soziologie der Erziehung veröffentlicht worden. Die Buchfassung ist unter dem Titel "Erziehung. Funktion und System" im Suhrkamp Verlag erschienen. Auf dem Forschungsportal des Niklas Luhmann-Archivs der Universität Bielefeld sind neben den Originalmanuskripten eine Vielzahl von weiteren Nachlassmaterialien zugänglich, die einen Einblick in die besondere Entstehungsgeschichte dieses Werks geben.

"Vielleicht sollten wir uns einmal ... zusammensetzen, um zu überlegen, ob wir nicht gemeinsam uns an einer etwas größeren Arbeit versuchen sollten." Dieser im März 1974 formulierte Vorschlag des Bielefelder Soziologen Niklas Luhmann an den Hamburger Erziehungswissenschaftler Karl Eberhard Schorr markiert den Beginn einer für den üblicherweise als Einzelautor arbeitenden Luhmann außergewöhnlichen Forschungs- und Publikationskooperation, die bis in die 1990er Jahre andauern sollte. 1979 wurde diese Zusammenarbeit durch das in der Erziehungswissenschaft hohe Wellen schlagende Buch "Reflexionsprobleme im Erziehungssystem" bekannt. Unbekannt geblieben ist dagegen bislang die Vorgeschichte: ein über drei Jahre laufende Arbeit an eine großen Theorie des Erziehungssystems der modernen Gesellschaft.

Alle Menschen werden erzogen und jede Gesellschaft erzieht. Eine Soziologie der Erziehung muss deshalb nach ihrer besonderen Funktion für die moderne Gesellschaft fragen. Die Antwort lautet: in der Sicherstellung der Teilnahmefähigkeit von Personen an gesellschaftlicher Kommunikation. Aus dieser Feststellung ergibt sich die Unterscheidung für alles weitere, nämlich die Unterscheidung von nichtintentionaler und intentionaler Erziehung – und nur die intentionale Erziehung ist der Träger der funktionalen Spezifikation. In einer derart abstrakt eingestellten Optik kommen die Schulorganisationen und das konkrete Unterrichtsgeschehen, das jeder aus eigener Erfahrung kennt, aber nicht zu kurz. Luhmanns Erziehungssoziologie arbeitet vielmehr heraus, dass der funktional spezifische Lehr-/Lernprozess die Etablierung eines besonderen Interaktionssystems in Form der Unterrichtsstunde und dessen organisatorische Aggregation in Form von Klassen nötig macht. Und die besondere Interaktionsabhängigkeit des Erziehens erfordert eine Professionalisierung des Lehrberufs und eine Organisation des Erziehungsprozesses durch Schulen.

Im Nachlass Luhmanns liegt zu diesen Überlegungen eine ganze Reihe an Manuskripten vor, die sich drei Anläufen zu einer solchen Theoriearbeit zuordnen lassen. Die jetzt publizierte Buchfassung macht im Wesentlichen die Kapitel der letzten Version von 1976/77 zugänglich. Parallel dazu werden auf dem Forschungsportal auch die Manuskripte der beiden Vorgängerversionen von 1974 und 1975 in einer digitalen Edition veröffentlicht. Unterlegt ist die in den verschiedenen Versionen dokumentierte Theoriearbeit nicht nur wie bei Luhmann üblich durch entsprechende handschriftliche Notizen in seinem berühmten Zettelkasten, die ebenfalls in einer edierten Fassung online gestellt werden. Im Fall der Theorie des Erziehungssystems gibt es vielmehr zusätzlich eine umfangreiche Sammlung von maschinenschriftlichen "Notizen zum Erziehungssystem", die Luhmann und Schorr im Zuge der Diskussion über das Buch ausgetauscht haben. Diese Dokumente einer außergewöhnlichen Forschungskooperation sind nun ebenfalls digital zugänglich.

Weitere Informationen und der Einstieg in die Online-Publikationen: https://niklas-luhmann-archiv.de/aktuelles