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?

Scholarship “Voluntariness” – Welcome, Mara Albrecht!

Since December 2022, Mara Albrecht is holding our “Initialization Sholarship Voluntariness”.  For at least one year Mara will be part of our team and will be developing a new project on the global history of voluntariness.

Voluntariness On Tour – Our Project on Martyrdom in Berlin

On Saturday, November 19, 2022, Markus from the subproject “Martyrdom and Voluntariness” presents aspects of his PhD-project at the conference “Verzicht. Mediävistische Perspektiven” in Berlin and will reflect on dying voluntarily and renunciation.