Research Areas “The Challenges of Freedom” (2006-2011)
Globalization and the emergence of new transnational dependencies and threats are challenging traditional interpretations of freedom and democracy and are transforming the role and function of the United States as an exemplary modern democratic society. Because of America’s unrivalled superpower status, the debates on American values and the mission of American democracy have become a matter of global concern. Changes in American society and the international system have significant consequences for the rest of the world, including Germany and the European community. To understand the historical foundations and possible future developments of the social, economic and cultural changes facing North America at the beginning of the new century call for a broadly designed cross-disciplinary analysis. The following eight research areas are designed to provide a comprehensive and systematic framework for the analysis of developments and changes in post-9/11 American society.
I. American Exceptionalism in a Changing World
II. Nation, Ethnicity, Diaspora, Borderlands
III. The Conservative Revolution and New Social Movements
IV. The Role of Religion in American Public Life
V. Art, Aesthetics, and American Culture
VI. The Struggle Over the Public Sphere: Media and Cultural Narratives
VII. Neoliberalism as an Economic and Cultural Paradigm
VIII. Globalization and the “American Centuries”
All research areas will study the historical contexts of contemporary developments. None can be pursued from the perspective of a single discipline. All require analysis from an interdisciplinary perspective. Our research framework is therefore defined in cluster-fashion and designed to combine the expertise of the different disciplines represented at the Kennedy Institute. Research areas I. and II. deal with competing conceptualizations of North American societies. Research areas III., IV., and V. describe current conflicts in a strongly divided American society and identify three realms in which these conflicts are especially pronounced. Research areas VII. and VIII. highlight the internationalization of economic and political principles shaped by the United States.[1]
|
RA I
Culture History Literature Political Science |
American Exceptionalism in a Changing World Focal Points:
|
|
RA II
Literature Culture Sociology Political Science
|
Nation, Ethnicity, Diaspora, Borderlands Focal Points:
|
|
RA III
Political Science Sociology Culture History
|
The Conservative Revolution and New Social Movements Focal Points:
|
|
RA IV
Culture Sociology Political Science History
|
Religion in Public Life Focal Points:
|
|
RA V
Literature Culture Sociology History
|
Arts, Aesthetics and American Culture Focal Points:
|
|
RA VI
Sociology Culture Literature History
|
The Struggle over the Public Sphere: Media and Cultural Narratives Focal Points:
|
|
RA VII
Economics History Political Science Culture |
Neo-Liberalism as an Economic and Cultural Paradigm Focal Points:
|
|
RA VIII
History Culture Political Science Economics
|
Globalization and the "American Centuries" Focal Points:
|
[1] An interdisciplinary bibliography of pertinent literature on all eight research areas is provided in 7.2. All references in the following outlines of our eight research areas are to this bibliography.
