To what extent were societies in Europe in the 20th century, apart from the momentum of social processes, intentionally constructed? Which political and social players took part in these processes? How did perceptions, interpretations and actions work together? To what extent did the processes of construction happen within the limits of nation states? Our projects deal with these questions. We want to research different methods of social construction that were characteristic of Europe in the 20th century—not only in dictatorships but also (although to a lesser extent and in different ways) in democracies. Each individual research project especially stresses the debates concerning varying concepts and practices of social construction. Relevant conflicts decided questions of social inclusion and exclusion—that is, they aided in the creation of concrete borders, or "Territoriality" (Charles S. Maier).

Current Project

• Joint German-Russian Project “Security and Civil Society in Germany and Tsarist Russia during the First World War. The In­ternment of Civilian ‘Enemy Aliens’ in the Bilateral Relationship, 1914-1917” - project page

Completed Projects

• Freedom and Security: Constructions and Political-Social Practice in Twentieth Century Europe, 1914-1989. Homepage

• Controversial Memories: Remembering National Socialism, Fascism, the Holocaust, and the Second World War in Europe in a Transnational Perspective. Homepage
• Philanthropic Associations and Civil Society in a Transborder Perspective: Giving and Receiving in Germany, 1945-1990. Homepage