CfP: Regimes of Inequality – Past and Present

Steering Committee: Dr. Maurice Cottier, Prof. Claude Hauser, Dr. Linda Ratschiller, Prof. Damir Skenderovic, Prof. Christina Späti Abstract The transdisciplinary doctoral program, offered by the bilingual Department of Contemporary History at the University of Fribourg, draws together PhD students and scholars from a variety of disciplines to analyze and discuss regimes of inequality in Switzerland, Europe and the world. What are the political, social, cultural and economic factors that generate, stabilize and reproduce inequality? How do actors, groups and institutions participate in these processes or, conversely, organize and mobilize to challenge the status quo? How can methods, theories and approaches of intersectionality be fruitfully applied to examine past and current regimes of inequality? The doctoral program brings together doctoral students working on a broad scope of themes relating to inequality, such as migration and racism, capitalism and neoliberalism, social and environmental questions, as well as from different disciplinary perspectives, including gender, postcolonial and minorities studies. The aim is to question the making of inequality from a historical point of view and thereby develop transdisciplinary and intertemporal approaches. Since the doctoral program is located at Switzerland’s only bilingual university, members will benefit from two distinct cultures of academic knowledge. This will provide a unique opportunity for scientific exchange across Switzerland and a valuable network for supporting doctoral students in developing and finalizing their research projects. The transdisciplinary doctoral program collaborates with the Chair for Medical Humanities at the University of Fribourg (Prof. Martina King) and the Interdisciplinary Centre for Gender Studies at the University of Berne (Prof. Patricia Purtschert). Target Group The doctoral program is opened to PhD students from a wide disciplinary range including history, political sciences, sociology, gender studies, medical humanities, social anthropology, economics as well as cultural, religious and legal studies. The aim is to create a network of doctoral students and researchers that reaches beyond disciplinary, institutional and linguistic boundaries. Members can express themselves and present their projects in German, French and English. Membership Members of the doctoral program are invited to participate in all activities on offer. In return, they are requested to participate in at least one event a year and to present their PhD project on one occasion during their membership period. The Department of Contemporary History covers their conference, catering and accommodation costs while the members are in charge of their travel expenses. Activities The doctoral program will run for four years starting in Spring 2022. The activities on offer include two types of events: - Public Guest Lectures: Once a year, an internationally renowned expert working on different aspects of inequality will give a public talk at the University of Fribourg. On these occasions, the members of the doctoral program are invited to an in-depth exchange with the guest speaker during which they will be able to discuss their work as well as a selection of central texts. - Doctoral workshops: The focus of these workshops will be on the doctoral candidates and their projects. Members will receive elaborate feedback from an expert in their field and their research will be discussed extensively with all participants, including PhD students, postdoctoral researchers and professors. Kick-off Workshop with Federico Finchelstein: 25–26 April 2022 The Kick-off Workshop for the doctoral program Regimes of Inequality – Past and Present is a joint event with the Institute of Political Studies at the University of Lausanne. On Monday afternoon 25 April, the members of the doctoral program are invited to a reading workshop with our guest speaker, Federico Finchelstein, during which we will discuss some of his key texts. The following day, Tuesday 26 April, Federico Finchelstein will first give a public lecture entitled Fascism, Populism and Inequality. Then and Now in the morning at the University of Fribourg. In the afternoon, the members of the doctoral program will have the opportunity to present their research projects to the workshop participants and receive detailed feedback from Federico Finchelstein. Federico Finchelstein is Professor of History at the New School for Social Research in New York City. His research on fascism, populism, Dirty Wars, the Holocaust and Jewish history in Latin America and Europe has gained wide scholarly attention. His newest publications include A Brief History of Fascist Lies (2020) and From Fascism to Populism in History (2017). Finchelstein addresses questions of inequality from a range of historical perspectives and is a regular commentator on current issues in The New York Times, The Washington Post and The Guardian. Application If you wish to apply to the doctoral program Regimes of Inequality – Past and Present, please submit the following documents to the coordinator Simone Rees (simone.rees@unifr.ch) by 31 January 2022: - Abstract of your PhD project (max. 300 words) - Motivational letter (max. 200 words) - Short biography - Details on your institutional affiliation