Faculty — BCDSS

Universität Bonn

BCDSS

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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.
Growing 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.
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.
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.
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.
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 Principal Investigator and Founding Member
Prof. Dr. Martin Aust Principal Investigator and Founding Member
Prof. Dr. Matthias Becher Principal Investigator and Founding Member
Prof. Dr. Jan H. Bemmann Principal Investigator and Founding Member
Prof. Dr. Martin Bentz Principal Investigator and Founding Member
Prof. Dr. Ulrich Berges Principal Investigator and Founding Member
Prof. Dr. Elke Brüggen Principal Investigator and Founding Member
Prof. Dr. Stephan Conermann Principal Investigator and Founding Member
Prof. Dr. Thomas Duve Principal Investigator and Founding Member
Prof. Dr. Dr. h. c. Nikolai Grube Principal Investigator and Founding Member
Prof. Dr. Marion Gymnich Principal Investigator and Founding Member
Prof. Dr. Julia Hegewald Principal Investigator and Founding Member
Prof. Dr. Wolfram Kinzig Principal Investigator and Founding Member
Prof. Dr. Ludwig D. Morenz Principal Investigator and Founding Member
Prof. Dr. Karoline Noack Principal Investigator and Founding Member
Prof. Dr. Judith Pfeiffer Principal Investigator and Founding Member
Prof. Dr. Martin Schermaier Principal Investigator and Founding Member
Prof. Dr. Winfried Schmitz Principal Investigator and Founding Member
Prof. Dr. Christian Schwermann Principal Investigator and Founding Member
Prof. Dr. Peter Schwieger Principal Investigator and Founding Member
Prof. Dr. Rudolf Stichweh Principal Investigator and Founding Member
Prof. Dr. Konrad Vössing Principal Investigator and Founding Member
Prof. Dr. Bethany J. Walker Principal Investigator and Founding Member
Prof. Dr. Michael Zeuske Principal Investigator and Founding Member
Prof. Dr. Reinhard Zöllner Principal Investigator and Founding Member

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 Associate of BCDSS Professorships BCDSS Research Associate
Research Group Leaders
Postdoctoral Researchers
Doctoral Candidates

BCDSS Professorships

BCDSS Professorships
Prof. Dr. Julia Hillner
Prof. Dr. Claudia Jarzebowski BCDSS Professor
Prof. Dr. Pia Wiegmink BCDSS Professor
Prof. Dr. Christoph Witzenrath BCDSS Professor

Research Group Leaders

Research Group Leaders
Dr. Mariana Armond Dias Paes Research Group Leader
Dr. Claude Chevaleyre Research Group Leader
Dr. Christian Guiseppe 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 Research Group Leader
Dr. Julia Winnebeck Research Group Leader

Postdoctoral Researchers

Postdoctoral Researchers
Dr. Vitali Bartash Postdoc
Dr. Josef Köstlbauer
Dr. Viola Müller Postdoc

Doctoral Candidates

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

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 Principal Investigator
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

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.

International Fellows

International Fellows Get an overview of the current international fellows at the Heinz Heinen Kolleg for Advanced Studies (HHK).
Prof. Dr. Andrew H. Apter
Dr. David Beresford-Jones
Dr. Klara Boyer-Rossol
Prof. Dr. Stefan Brink
Prof. Dr. Trevor Burnard
Dr. Fabrizio Filioli Uranio
Prof. Dr. Jane Hathaway
Dr. Caroline Laske
Dr. Royce Mahawatte
Dr. Claudia Rauhut
Dr. Paola Revilla Orías
Dr. John F. Chuchiak
Prof. Dr. Ludolf Pelizaeus
Lori De Lucia
Chioma Daisy Onyige
André Luís Bezerra Ferreira
Dr. Fırat Yaşa
Chiriac Bogdan
Mònica Ginés-Blasi

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. Paola A. Revilla
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
Student Assistant

Alumni

Alumni Find more information about the Alumni of the Bonn Center for Dependency and Slavery Studies.
Prof. Dr. Stefan Brink
Dr. Lotte Pelckmans
Prof. Dr. Serena Tolino

Third Mission

Third Mission
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

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
Dependency, Gender, and Labor in the Household
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

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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