Our Team — BCDSS

Universität Bonn

BCDSS

About Us
Research
Publications
Academic Programs
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Resources of Power Exhibition

About Us Our Cluster of Excellence at the University of Bonn aims to overcome the binary opposition of "slavery versus freedom". It is a research cluster within the framework of the Excellence Strategy of the federal and state governments. Our cluster of excellence is a joint project of researchers from sociological and anthropological theory, archaeology, Asian and Islamic Studies, religious studies, as well as, theology and German medieval literature, and history. We propose "asymmetrical dependency" as a new key concept including all forms of bondage across time and space.
Research In spite of the diverse forms that human bondage and coercion have taken over time, academic debates in the modern West have primarily focused on the most extreme one: slavery, and in particular, the trans-Atlantic experience of slavery which was closely entangled with the creation of the modern West. It still continues to inform our notions of what freedom and a lack of freedom mean. "Slavery" and "freedom" are ideologically charged terms. We will therefore use a more neutral terminology, and so move beyond the binary opposition of "slavery versus freedom" by suggesting "asymmetrical dependency" – or, more precisely, "strong asymmetrical dependency" as a new key concept, which includes debt bondage, convict labor, tributary labor, servitude, serfdom, and domestic work as well as forms of wage labor and various types of patronage.
Publications The Bonn Center for Dependency and Slavery Studies has different publication series: Monographs and edited volumes aimed at the scientific community, BCDSS Discussion Papers are articles reporting on research results from current projects. They are usually subsequently published in scholarly journals. BCDSS Working Papers report on preliminary research results or contribute to current debates. In addition, we offer you our quarterly newsletter and our cluster magazine DEPENDENT. Both publications provide information about the work of the cluster and give an insight into events and our research projects. sehepunkte is an interdisciplinary review journal and presents not only an ever-changing repertoire of reviews but also discussions of both monographs and edited collections in fields such as the history of medicine, law and art.
Academic Programs Our cluster of excellence provides a graduate school and a fellow program. Three professorships that are implemented by the University specifically for the cluster complement the expertise of the Principal Investigators. A Center for Digital Humanities and our global research network are the most important measures that disseminate the cluster's research results.
Newsroom During the semester the Bonn Center for Dependency and Slavery Studies offers a variety of events around our research topics. Here you can find an overview of all our events. These are conferences, workshops, seminars, panel discussions or our Joseph C. Miller Memorial Lecture Series.
Resources of Power Exhibition

About Us

About Us Our Cluster of Excellence at the University of Bonn aims to overcome the binary opposition of "slavery versus freedom". It is a research cluster within the framework of the Excellence Strategy of the federal and state governments. Our cluster of excellence is a joint project of researchers from sociological and anthropological theory, archaeology, Asian and Islamic Studies, religious studies, as well as, theology and German medieval literature, and history. We propose "asymmetrical dependency" as a new key concept including all forms of bondage across time and space.
Overview
People Get to know our team of principal investigators, of research group leaders and doctoral students, of visiting fellows, associated and affiliated researchers and our managment unit.
Boards and Committes
Third Mission
Network

People

People Get to know our team of principal investigators, of research group leaders and doctoral students, of visiting fellows, associated and affiliated researchers and our managment unit.
Principal Investigators The members of the Bonn Center for Dependency and Slavery Studies represent a unique set of disciplines specializing in non-European premodern societies. They have worked with a wide range of societies.
BCDSS Professors
Investigators The members of the Bonn Center for Dependency and Slavery Studies represent a unique set of disciplines specializing in non-European premodern societies. They have worked with a wide range of societies.
Faculty The Faculty of the Bonn Center for Dependency and Slavery Studies consists of four Spokespersons, BCDSS Professors, Research Associates, Research Group Leaders and Doctoral Candidates.
Fellows and Guest Researchers Visiting Fellows and Guest Researchers join the Heinz Heinen Kolleg for Advanced Studies (HHK)
Affiliated Researchers Affiliated Researchers of the Bonn Center for Dependency and Slavery Studies contribute actively to the scientific output of the Center.
Management The Management Unit (MU) coordinates the central activities of the Bonn Center for Dependency and Slavery Studies including the management of administrative services, budgeting and accounting, as well as media and public relations. In addition, the MU is involved in the recruitment and promotion of young scientists and the organization of academic and non-academic relations. The services of the MU support the everyday work of researchers as well as national and international collaborators.
Alumni Find more information about the Alumni of the Bonn Center for Dependency and Slavery Studies.

Principal Investigators

Principal Investigators The members of the Bonn Center for Dependency and Slavery Studies represent a unique set of disciplines specializing in non-European premodern societies. They have worked with a wide range of societies.
Prof. Dr. Christoph Antweiler Prof. Dr. Christoph Antweiler is Principal Investigator at the BCDSS.
Prof. Dr. Martin Aust
Prof. Dr. Matthias Becher Prof. Dr. Matthias Becher is Principal Investigator at the BCDSS.
Prof. Dr. Jan H. Bemmann Prof. Dr. Jan H. Bemmann is Principal Investigator at the BCDSS
Prof. Dr. Martin Bentz Prof. Dr. Martin Bentz is principal investigator at the BCDSS.
Prof. Dr. Ulrich Berges Prof. Dr. Ulrich Berges is a principal investigator at the BCDSS.
Prof. Dr. Elke Brüggen
Prof. Dr. Stephan Conermann Prof. Dr. Stephan Conermann is speaker of the BCDSS
Prof. Dr. Thomas Duve
Prof. Dr. Dr. h. c. Nikolai Grube
Prof. Dr. Marion Gymnich
Prof. Dr. Julia A. B. Hegewald
Prof. Dr. Wolfram Kinzig
Prof. Dr. Ludwig D. Morenz
Prof. Dr. Karoline Noack
Prof. Dr. Judith Pfeiffer
Prof. Dr. Martin Schermaier
Prof. Dr. Winfried Schmitz
Prof. Dr. Christian Schwermann
Prof. Dr. Peter Schwieger
Prof. Dr. Rudolf Stichweh
Prof. Dr. Konrad Vössing Principal Investigator and Founding Member
Prof. Dr. Bethany J. Walker
Prof. Dr. Michael Max Paul Zeuske
Prof. Dr. Reinhard Zöllner

BCDSS Professors

BCDSS Professors
Prof. Dr. Julia Hillner Prof. Dr. Julia Hillner is Clusterprofessor at the BCDSS.
Prof. Dr. Claudia Jarzebowski Prof. Dr. Claudia Jarzebowski is Clusterprofessor at the BCDSS.
Prof. Dr. Pia Wiegmink Prof. Dr. Pia Wiegmink is Clusterprofessor at the BCDSS.
Prof. Dr. Christoph Witzenrath

Investigators

Investigators The members of the Bonn Center for Dependency and Slavery Studies represent a unique set of disciplines specializing in non-European premodern societies. They have worked with a wide range of societies.
Dr. Dennis Mario Beck
Prof. Dr. Béla Bodó Principal Investigator
Prof. Dr. Sabine Feist Principal Investigator
Prof. Dr. Kristina Großmann Principal Investigator
Prof. Dr. Adrian Hermann Principal Investigator
Prof. Dr. Christian Hornung Principal Investigator
Prof. Dr. Hermut Löhr Principal Investigator
Prof. Dr. Birgit Münch Principal Investigator
Prof. Dr. Markus Saur Principal Investigator
Prof. Dr. Dr. Jochen Sautermeister Principal Investigator

Faculty

Faculty The Faculty of the Bonn Center for Dependency and Slavery Studies consists of four Spokespersons, BCDSS Professors, Research Associates, Research Group Leaders and Doctoral Candidates.
BCDSS Professorships
Research Group Leaders
Postdoctoral Researchers
Doctoral Candidates

BCDSS Professorships

BCDSS Professorships
Prof. Dr. Julia Hillner Prof. Dr. Julia Hillner is Clusterprofessor at the BCDSS.
Prof. Dr. Claudia Jarzebowski Prof. Dr. Claudia Jarzebowski is Clusterprofessor at the BCDSS.
Prof. Dr. Pia Wiegmink Prof. Dr. Pia Wiegmink is Clusterprofessor at the BCDSS.
Prof. Dr. Christoph Witzenrath

Research Group Leaders

Research Group Leaders
Dr. Mariana Armond Dias Paes Research Group Leader
Dr. Claude Chevaleyre Research Group Leader
Dr. Christian Giuseppe De Vito Principal Investigator and Founding Member
Dr. Lisa Hellman Research Group Leader
Dr. Sinah Kloß Research Group Leader
Dr. Christian Mader Research Group Leader
Dr. Hanne Østhus Research Group Leader
Dr. Jutta Wimmler Dr. Jutta Wimmler is research group leader at the BCDSS
Dr. Julia Winnebeck Dr. Julia Winnebeck is a research group leader at the BCDSS.

Postdoctoral Researchers

Postdoctoral Researchers
Dr. Vitali Bartash Vitali Bartash is a postdoctoral researcher at the BCDSS.
Dr. James M. Harland
Dr. Emma Kalb Postdoctoral Researcher at the BCDSS
Dr. Josef Köstlbauer
Dr. Jennifer Leetsch Researcher Profil
Eva Marie Lehner Dr. Eva Marie Lehner ist postdoctoral researcher at the BCDSS.
Dr. Viola Müller Postdoc
Dr. Elena Smolarz BCDSS Research Associate

Doctoral Candidates

Doctoral Candidates
Malik Ade Malik Ade is doctoral candidate at the BCDSS.
Boluwatife Akinro Doctoral Candidate
Turkana Allahverdiyeva Doctoral Candidate
Anas Ansar Doctoral Candidate
Dita Auziņa Doctoral Candidate
Bahar Bayraktaroğlu Bahar Bayraktaroğlu is a doctoral candidate at the BCDSS.
Joseph Biggerstaff Joseph Biggerstaff is a doctoral candidate at the BCDSS.
Claire Conrad Doctoral Candidate
Juelma Da Conceição Gomes De Matos De Ngãla Doctoral Candidate
Maysa Espíndola Souza Doctoral Candidate
Adam Fagbore Doctoral Candidate
Ricardo Márquez García Doctoral Candidate
Katja Girr Katja Girr is a doctoral candidate at the BCDSS.
Magnus Goffin Doctoral Candidate
Zeynep Y. Gökce Doctoral Candidate
Paul Graf Doctoral Candidate
Honey Hammer Doctoral Candidate
Henriette von Harnier Henriette von Harnier is a doctoral researcher at the BCDSS.
Clara Hedtrich Doctoral Candidate
Samuel Huckleberry Samuel Huckleberry is a doctoral candidate.
Ayesha Hussain Doctoral Candidate
Luvena Kopp
Susana Macías Pascua Doctoral Candidate
Danitza L. Márquez Ramírez Doctoral Candidate
Stanislav Mohylnyi Doctoral Candidate
Lena Muders Lena Muders is a doctoral candidate at the BCDSS
Lisa Phongsavath Lisa Phongsavath is a doctoral candidate at the BCDSS.
Jahfar Shareef Pokkanali Doctoral Candidate
David Ponwitz Doctoral Candidate
Alexander Rothenberg Doctoral Candidate
Christine Mae Sarito Doctoral Candidate
Julia Schmidt Julia Schmidt is a doctoral candidate at the BCDSS.
Nabhojeet Sen Doctoral Candidate
David Smith David Smith is a doctoral candidate at the BCDSS.
Taynã Tagliati Souza Doctoral Candidate
Laurie Venters Doctoral Candidate
Tamia Viteri Toledo Doctoral Candidate
Lukas Wissel Doctoral Candidate
Patrick Zeidler Doctoral Candidate

Fellows and Guest Researchers

Fellows and Guest Researchers Visiting Fellows and Guest Researchers join the Heinz Heinen Kolleg for Advanced Studies (HHK)
International Fellows Get an overview of the current international fellows at the Heinz Heinen Kolleg for Advanced Studies (HHK).
Guest Researchers Learn more about the current guest researchers at the BCDSS.
Internal Fellows Internal Fellows at the Heinz Heinen Kolleg for Advanced Studies (HHK).

International Fellows

International Fellows Get an overview of the current international fellows at the Heinz Heinen Kolleg for Advanced Studies (HHK).
Dr. David Beresford-Jones
André Luís Bezerra Ferreira
Chiriac Bogdan
Dr. Klara Boyer-Rossol
Dr. John F. Chuchiak
Ruth Ennis Ruth Ennis is fellow at the BCDSS
Mònica Ginés-Blasi
Lori De Lucia
Prof. Dr. Ludolf Pelizaeus
Dr. Claudia Rauhut
Chioma Daisy Onyige
Anne Vater Anne Vater is Ph.D. candidate at the BCDSS
Dr. Fırat Yaşa

Guest Researchers

Guest Researchers Learn more about the current guest researchers at the BCDSS.
Prof. Dr. Paulo Cruz Terra
Prof. Dr. Frank Perlin

Affiliated Researchers

Affiliated Researchers Affiliated Researchers of the Bonn Center for Dependency and Slavery Studies contribute actively to the scientific output of the Center.
Prof. Dr. Manuel Barcia
Prof. Dr. Martin Ebner
Dr. Alain El Youssef
Prof. Dr. Roberto Hofmeister Pich
Dr. Anna Kollatz
Dr. Caroline Laske
Dr. Paola Revilla Orías
Prof. Dr. Ulrike Schmieder
Dr. Gül Şen
Dr. Veruschka Wagner

Management

Management The Management Unit (MU) coordinates the central activities of the Bonn Center for Dependency and Slavery Studies including the management of administrative services, budgeting and accounting, as well as media and public relations. In addition, the MU is involved in the recruitment and promotion of young scientists and the organization of academic and non-academic relations. The services of the MU support the everyday work of researchers as well as national and international collaborators.
Managing Director
Head of Research and Study
Press and PR Manager
Project Assistant
Translator and Academic Editor
Publications Manager
eTeaching Coordinator
Event Coordinator
Team Assistant

Alumni

Alumni Find more information about the Alumni of the Bonn Center for Dependency and Slavery Studies.
Prof. Dr. Andrew H. Apter
Prof. Dr. Stefan Brink
Prof. Dr. Trevor Burnard
Dr. Fabrizio Filioli Uranio
Prof. Dr. Jane Hathaway
Dr. Royce Mahawatte
Dr. Lotte Pelckmans
Prof. Dr. Serena Tolino

Third Mission

Third Mission
Equal Opportunities & Diversity
Sustainability The Bonn Center for Dependency and Slavery Studies is committed to raising awareness for sustainability and environmentally-friendly behavior. By implementing a sustainability strategy, we can make a contribution to the protection of our climate.

Research

Research In spite of the diverse forms that human bondage and coercion have taken over time, academic debates in the modern West have primarily focused on the most extreme one: slavery, and in particular, the trans-Atlantic experience of slavery which was closely entangled with the creation of the modern West. It still continues to inform our notions of what freedom and a lack of freedom mean. "Slavery" and "freedom" are ideologically charged terms. We will therefore use a more neutral terminology, and so move beyond the binary opposition of "slavery versus freedom" by suggesting "asymmetrical dependency" – or, more precisely, "strong asymmetrical dependency" as a new key concept, which includes debt bondage, convict labor, tributary labor, servitude, serfdom, and domestic work as well as forms of wage labor and various types of patronage.
Research Areas
Research Groups
Working Groups
Third-Party Funded Projects Connected to the BCDSS and Its Members Third-Party Funded Projects Connected to the BCDSS and Its Members
Slavery Digital Humanities Slavery Digital Humanities – Websites, Databases, Digital Archives and Collections

Research Areas

Research Areas
Research Area A: Semantics – Lexical Fields – Narratives In Research Area A, we approach the phenomenon of slavery and other types of strong asymmetrical dependencies from three methodologically and theoretically distinct perspectives: (1) Semantics, (2) Lexical Fields and (3) Narratives.
Research Area B: Embodied Dependencies In Research Area B, we approach the phenomenon of slavery and other types of strong asymmetrical dependencies by taking into consideration a pre-colonial perspective. We aim at establishing archaeology, art history, and object-based anthropology on an equal level with other disciplines of the humanities that focus on written sources
Research Area C: Institutions, Norms and Practices Dependency is created at the crossroads of norms and related institutions and practices. In this context, the central fields of study in Research Area C are legislation and legal practice, establishing norms and social practice, as well as literacy and orality.
Research Area D: Labor and Spatiality Research Area D no longer adopts European free wage labor as the standard labor relation of modernity. Instead of this approach it takes all forms of labor into account in equal measure: "free" and "unfree" forms of labor, productive and reproductive labor, capitalist and non-capitalist labor relations – in both Western and non-Western societies, from within and beyond European (colonial) history.
Research Area E: Gender (and Intersectionality) Research Area E focuses specifically on asymmetrical power relationships as reflected in gender relations and gender orders. The "gendering of the history of asymmetrical dependencies" makes it possible to discern differences and complementary structures in the experience of bonded and oppressed men and women, as well as of gender-conforming and -nonconforming individuals.

Research Groups

Research Groups
The Archaeology of Dependency (ArchDepth): Resources, Power and Status Differentiation
Beyond Slavery: Dependency in Asian History
Coerced Circulation of Knowledge
The Concept of Slavery in African History
Law and the Creation of Dependency in the Ibero-Atlantic
Marking Power: Embodied Dependencies, Haptic Regimes and Body Modification
Punishment, Labor and Dependency
Structures of Dependency in the Late Antique and Early Medieval Western Church

Publications

Publications The Bonn Center for Dependency and Slavery Studies has different publication series: Monographs and edited volumes aimed at the scientific community, BCDSS Discussion Papers are articles reporting on research results from current projects. They are usually subsequently published in scholarly journals. BCDSS Working Papers report on preliminary research results or contribute to current debates. In addition, we offer you our quarterly newsletter and our cluster magazine DEPENDENT. Both publications provide information about the work of the cluster and give an insight into events and our research projects. sehepunkte is an interdisciplinary review journal and presents not only an ever-changing repertoire of reviews but also discussions of both monographs and edited collections in fields such as the history of medicine, law and art.
BCDSS's Publishing Series
Monographs and Edited Volumes by BCDSS members
Peer-reviewed Journal Articles
Contributions to Edited Volumes
Sehepunkte
Cluster Magazine "DEPENDENT"

BCDSS's Publishing Series

BCDSS's Publishing Series
BCDSS Book Series "Beyond Slavery and Freedom" The BCDSS Books Series "Beyond Slavery and Freedom: Asymmetrical Dependencies in Pre-Modern Societies"
Joseph C. Miller Memorial Lecture Series The Cluster has established a lecture series in the memory of Joseph C. Miller
BCDSS Working Papers The Working Paper Series is conceptualized as "works in progress".
BCDSS Concept Papers The Concept Paper Series is conceptualized as "living papers";

Academic Programs

Academic Programs Our cluster of excellence provides a graduate school and a fellow program. Three professorships that are implemented by the University specifically for the cluster complement the expertise of the Principal Investigators. A Center for Digital Humanities and our global research network are the most important measures that disseminate the cluster's research results.
MA Programs
Doctoral Program at the Bonn Center for Dependency and Slavery Studies
Heinz Heinen Fellowship Program

MA Programs

MA Programs
Two-Year Master "Dependency and Slavery Studies"
One-Year Master "Slavery Studies"
Frequently Asked Questions Please find frequently asked questions to the application process here. The FAQs usually refer to both programs, unless otherwise stated.
News & Information Master Programs of BCDSS - Guidelines

Newsroom

Newsroom During the semester the Bonn Center for Dependency and Slavery Studies offers a variety of events around our research topics. Here you can find an overview of all our events. These are conferences, workshops, seminars, panel discussions or our Joseph C. Miller Memorial Lecture Series.
Upcoming Events
News
Cluster Magazine "DEPENDENT"
BCDSS Newsletter

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About Us
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BCDSS Professors³

Investigators⁴

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Fellows and Guest Researchers

Management

Alumni

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