Cluster of Excellence: Bonn Center for Dependency and Slavery Studies (EXC 2036)

The Bonn Center for Dependency and Slavery Studies (BCDSS) at the University of Bonn investigates strong asymmetrical dependencies such as slavery, serfdom, debt bondage, and other forms of permanent dependency across epochs, regions, and cultures. The center’s focus lies "beyond slavery and freedom", thus aiming to overcome the binary opposition of "free" and "unfree".

Application Deadline:

For open positions, please check the program website.

Program Language:

English

Program Duration:

4 years

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Doctoral Disciplines

Any subject from the five listed faculties that is represented at the BCDSS by a professor or research group leader. For a full list, see here.

Type of Program

Cluster of Excellence

Faculties

Faculty of Arts
Faculty of Catholic Theology
Faculty of Law & Economics
Faculty of Mathematics & Natural Sciences
Faculty of Protestant Theology

Bonn Center for Dependency and Slavery Studies logo_Bonn Center for Dependency and Slavery Studies/Uni Bonn

Short Description

The BCDSS is a joint project of researchers from many different backgrounds, including Anthropology of the Americas, Archaeology, Art History, Egyptology, History, Law, Museum Studies, North American Studies, Romance Studies, South East Asian Studies, Theology, and Tibetan Studies.

The BCDSS focuses on various forms of Strong Asymmetrical Dependencies throughout history. Strong Asymmetrical Dependency is a unique analytical concept the center has developed since 2019, which allows researchers to systematically put phenomena of dependency in relation to each other and provide innovative insights into human social orders across very different historical contexts

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