Research Areas

Four research areas have been established with the Center’s general program. In order to facilitate networking between the various projects and scholarly disciplines, these have been conceived as representing a substantive structure, not as an organizational segmentation of the Center.

The research areas served as contact zones for thematic and methodological dialogue between researchers pursuing individual projects. Such contact also took place through numerous decentrally initiated activities (e.g.working groups).

In the second research period the Center continued to develop the first period’s four research areas in modified form, adding new accents. The areas have been arranged so as to ensure openness for scholars from all participating departments, new ideas and interests thus being stimulated, mobilized, and brought together.

1. Identification and the Politics of Identity
2. Practices of Knowledge and Non-Knowledge
3. The Cultural Modeling of Hierarchy and Violence
4. Cultural Dynamics of Religion