Our Research
The aim of TRA Present Pasts is to overcome Eurocentric historiography through the collaborative exploration of research on different geographical and temporal areas. It brings research on South and Central America, Africa, Asia and Europe into discussion and questions the boundaries of European research disciplines.
The TRA's research is centred on two core aspects - heritage and communication - and their diverse connections.
Profile Area Heritage
In this field of research, academics question Eurocentric discourses and practices of heritage. By analysing the provenance and restitution of collections, hegemonic heritage discourses are deconstructed and colonial power relations are challenged. This focus develops a new approach to and understanding of heritage. The university collections as a condensation point of negotiation processes around objects and the associated practices, forms of knowledge and contexts of origin form a special focus within the research field.
Profile Area Communication
Communication over long distances is one of the basic preconditions of globalisation processes. Under the umbrella of communication and globalisation, TRA Present Pasts researchers investigate phenomena such as social inequalities and dependency relationships, migration and mobility phenomena as well as other forms of power relations. The focus is particularly on pre-modern forms of communication in order to better understand their current manifestations in the context of globalisation.
TRA-Projects
