Voluntariness On Tour – Our Project on the “Neuererwesen” in Jena

On Wednesday, July 6, 2022, Elena from the subproject “Voluntariness and Dictatorship: Voluntary Participation in the Neuererwesen of the German Democratic Republic” is invited to give a talk at the Historical Institute at Jena University. We are looking forward to her presentation and to hear about some new aspects of her fascinating research!

For her PHD-project, Elena is investigating voluntary participation among “Neuerer” – members of the GDR’s workplace inventor and suggestion scheme known as the “Neuerer- und Rationalisatorenbewegung”. She foregrounds very exciting case studies and her project deals intensively with individual actors and their challenges within socialist working environments in the GDR. For the Contemporary History Colloquium at the Historical Institute of the University of Jena, Elena will present her project with the lecture “Freiwilligkeit” als Norm, Ressource und Diskursstrategie in der Neuererbewegung der DDR.“

The colloquium takes place every Wednesday from 6:15 to 7:45 p.m. in the seminar room at Zwätzengasse 4 in Jena, and those interested can follow Elena’s lecture on site on July 6. The organizers point out that it is possible to switch to a zoom version if necessary. Please check online.

Poster "Woche des Neuerers/Planmäßig Rationalisieren"

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What Else Is New?

“Treppenhaus-Lecture” by Jürgen Martschukat in Erfurt

Under the heading “Ambivalences of Voluntariness”, Jürgen Martschukat, spokesperson of the DFG Research Unit Voluntariness, will give a brief overview of the research of our group on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, from 12:00 to 12:30 in the foyer of the research building “Weltbeziehungen” in Erfurt, as part of the series “Treppenhaus Lectures”. Feel free to drop by!

Special Issue on Voluntariness at Rethinking History

Members of our research group have compiled a special issue for the journal Rethinking History on the topic of “The Politics of Voluntariness in Modern History.” The issue is edited by Jürgen Martschukat and Alexandra Oeser and all pieces are available for download as open access articles on the journal’s website. Get the links right here.