KFG 20:  Universalism and Particularism in European Contemporary History

• Subject Area: Humanities ; Social and Behavioural Sciences
• Term: since 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 449772505

The Centre for Advanced Studies (CAS) investigates universalist and particularist models of order in European contemporary history from the 1970s to the present. Universalist claims aim at universally applicable rules, the demand for which, however, usually follows concrete interests. In contrast, particularist models reject any general claim and justify guiding principles that are oriented towards the construction of individual or group-related needs. The CAS research program poses the question how universalist and particularist claims were constructed in contemporary history and how political-social change was conceived, justified, promoted or even prevented with them. The CAS focuses on economic, religious/secular and human rights regimes and investigates these research areas in three steps: (1) universalist and particularist concepts, (2) their transfer and (3) functions.The aim of the CAS is to gain a better understanding of the complexity of the transition and the overlaying of universalist and particularist concepts in European contemporary history. Central to the CAS is the assumption that contemporary history in Eastern and Western Europe can only be adequately described in its interdependencies and global entanglements. The CAS is headed by three scholars who represent contemporary history (Andreas Wirsching), European History (Kiran Patel) and Eastern European history (Martin Schulze Wessel). Due to this personal constellation, the CAS is in a position to examine the history of Western and Eastern Europe in its global context. The CAS pursues a theoretical program that consists of an intensive dialogue between historians and social scientists. The Distinguished Fellows Marta Bucholc (sociology), Alexander Libman (political science) and Angelika Nußberger (law) thus play a key role in the frame of the CAS. The CAS intends to discuss concepts of historical and social science research with regard to their potential for the analysis of recent contemporary history. Central to the CAS is the Fellow Program, in which distinguished, senior and junior fellows are invited. The CAS attaches great importance to the involvement of further colleagues of the LMU Munich and to the media dissemination of scientific results to scientific and non-scientific target groups. As an important result of its work, the CAS will at the end of its term present a theoretically founded European contemporary history based on interdisciplinary cooperation, which takes up the basic ideas of the CAS.

• DFG Programme: Advanced Studies Centres in SSH

Projects

• Coordination Funds (Applicant Schulze Wessel, Martin )
• Universalism and Particularism in European Contemporary History (Applicants Patel, Kiran ;  Schulze Wessel, Martin ;  Wirsching, Andreas )

• Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Martin Schulze Wessel
• Project Heads: Professor Dr. Kiran Patel; Professor Dr. Andreas Wirsching