Terms and Turns of Empire. Interconnecting Concepts and Methods

Dear all,

We are pleased to share with you the call for applications for our summer school “Terms and Turns of Empire. Interconnecting Concepts and Methods” hosted by the Research Training Group 2571 “Empires” (University of Freiburg) from September 7th-12th, 2026.

It will offer an intensive interdisciplinary methodological forum for critical engagement with the relationship between methods and concepts of ‘empire’ across academic fields and historical periods.

Confirmed guests include Peter Bang (Copenhagen), Julian Go (Chicago), Louis Nana (Tübingen), and Khadija von Zinnenburg Carroll (Vienna).

We are looking for applications from doctoral students who deal with empires from all periods and regions in the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. We expect an open mind for interdisciplinary dialogue, ideally already indicated by the current research project.

The Summer School will accommodate a maximum of 20 participants and will be held in English.

We will cover the cost of accommodation (single rooms) at Studienhaus Wiesneck in the Black Forest. Travel costs will be covered up to 200€ with possible exceptions in special circumstances (e.g. travel from outside of Europe).

Please send your application with the following documents to kontakt(at)grk2571.uni-freiburg.de until 31 May 2026.

• 1 page motivation letter
• 1 page summary of your current research project with a focus on your conceptualisation of empire and the methods employed
• CV (ca. 2 pages)

Participants will be notified at the beginning of June.

You will find the call for applications attached, and we remain at your disposal for any questions you might have.

For more information, consult: https://uni-freiburg.de/empires/summer-school-2026/

Warm regards,

Summer School organising committee from the RTG 2571 Empires

Call for Applications (PDF)