Month: May 2015 (Page 2 of 3)

My doctoral thesis focuses on the institutional policies and practices of child placement between 1945 and 1980 in the German part of Switzerland. With respect to its legal, social and academic contexts, the research question is how outplacement functioned in care homes and foster families in Switzerland between 1945 and 1980. The objective is to analyse the placement policies, the practices of exemplary care homes, and the role of medical expertise in the decision process. The issue of outplacement in Switzerland ties into newer research in contemporary history and social sciences, which emphasize the exclusionary effects of modern welfare states. It should be noted that there are different perceptions of what is a welfare state and that the concept of the welfare state is itself subject to historical change. Traditional research emphasizes the importance of nation and the nation building process for the differentiation of the welfare state. Newer research focuses increasingly on the „new spatial politics of social protection“, which break down national boundaries. This innovative perspective in the historiography of the welfare state is closely linked to recent research in historically-informed sociology and political science on the influence of federalism for the development of the Swiss welfare state. Characteristic for the welfare state of Switzerland is its highly federalized system, in which welfare, education, and legal policy is largely a cantonal responsibility. It is only in specific cases, albeit an increasing numbers, that national rules and regulations are imposed. This federalist structure result on cantonal level in a difference conception of welfare, education and legal frameworks, what emphasizes the importance of the regional dimension of the politics of the welfare state.

Here I would like to focus on outplacement as an instrument of the development of welfare state. Under consideration of what Raphael Lutz calls „Verwissenschaftlichung“ (scientization) of the social“, I argue that an important part for the development of the modern welfare state has been social policy. In particular, the post-war period addresses changes not only in social policy but also in the care home sector. These changes are systemically linked to the accelerated social and institutional change after 1948, accompanied by the expansion of the welfare state. My research will focus empiricaly on two cantons „Kanton Basel-Stadt“ and the canton of Appenzell Innerrhoden in orde to locate the networks of outplacement in these two cantons. Besides a descriptive view on the involved networks, I pursue an actor-orientated perspective, in order to analyses how the various actors are connected, which are their influence on the outplacement-policy and -practices and how their institutional mechanism functioned. .Stressing that the acquisition and transmission of social knowledge is based on academy, institutions and practices equally, I will emphasize the importance of analysis networks. Theoretically I take Michel Foucault and Bruno Latour into account in order to discuss whether the connection of the notion of dispositiv and the actor-network theory is possible or not.

In 2014 I earned my Master`s Degree in history at the University of Zurich with the master thesis „The Taubstummenanstalt (school for the deaf-mute) Hohenrain. Deafness and the Construction of Otherness (1847-1942)“. Since July 2014 I am employed as a research assistant in the Sinergia-Project „Placing Children in Care. Child Welfare in Switzerland (1940-1990)“ and I am as well a member of the Basel Graduated School of History. My motivation to participate in the summer school is to gain a new perspective on networks and transnational history.

My key-lectures are as follows:

Hubig, Christoph: Dispositiv als Kategorie, in: Internationale Zeitschrift für Philosophie, 1994, S. 34-47.

Latour, Bruno: Reassembling the social. An introduction to actor-network-theory, Oxford 2007.

Lessenich, Stephan, Die Neuerfindung des Sozialen. Der Sozialstaat im flexiblen Kapitalismus, Bielefeld 2008.

Raphael, Lutz: Die Verwissenschaftlichung des Sozialen als methodische und konzeptionelle Herausforderung für eine Sozialgeschichte des 20. Jahrhunderts, in: Geschichte und Gesellschaft 22, 1996, S. 165-193.

Schulz-Schaeffer, Ingo: Akteur-Netzwerk-Theorie. Zur Koevolution von Gesellschaft, Natur und Technik, in: Johannes Weyer, Soziale Netzwerke: Konzepte und Methoden der sozialwissenschaftlichen Netzwerkforschung, München 2000, S. 187-210.

The topic of my dissertation is the formation and development of the movement of unemployed since the 1970s in Switzerland. Therefore I am analyzing five committees of unemployed persons: three in the French part of Switzerland and two in the German part. The formation of these committees was strongly related with welfare policies and the general economic situation: After the introduction of the automatic cession in the unemployment insurance first organizations of unemployed were formed, activation measures forced them to professionalise their consulting and occupational structures, and when the unemployment rate was high they could mobilise thousands to protest on the streets and gained a national referendum.

My aim is to study the constitution of a social group in the course of changing welfare policies and the transformations of labour. The actor’s perspective allows a broader sight on unemployment and also includes people depending from welfare benefits and precarious workers. The political discourse and the visible protests as well as the securing function of these organizations shall be analysed. Both include the formation of networks: Manifestations on the European and the Swiss national level made networks between different countries and regions visible. The principle was that people marched from their regions to a common point where a big manifestation took place. Appeals for manifestations were posters with a map connecting different places. To clarify the protest forms, an analysis of interorganizational networks on a national and an international level is necessary.

Through self-organized occupation and consulting structures on a local level, the unemployment organizations can be seen as securing networks on an individual level. To find new ways of working and securing forms the committees formed their own networks, for instance barter communities. The analysis of these self-created networks enlightens the experimental character of the movement and that political activity hasn’t been restricted on street protests, lobbying or publicly visible actions.

Methodologically in my doctorate thesis, I don’t want to focus only on a network analysis, but also on a reconstruction of identity, subjectivity and representations.

Biographical sketch

My name is Anina Zahn. After having studied history and philosophy in Fribourg (Switzerland) and Zurich and completing several internships in the field of migration and an archive I started in January 2015 my dissertation about the unemployment movement at the university of Basel. Already after some months in the archives I recognised that networks within the unemployment movement are very important, something I didn’t expect at the beginning. My motivation to participate on the GRAINES Summer School is to sharpen my understanding of the notion network and know about theories and instruments that help me to analyse interconnected movements and actors in the unemployment field. I would like to share a short presentation on the use of international, national and local networks as a political strategy of social movements using the example of the organization of unemployed of Basel. For my presentation, I want to present you empirical recognisable networks, rather than interconnected discourses. Also I will focus on movement networks, and not on individual mobilisation networks or connections with the State, parties or syndicates.

Readings

That social movements are networks is a very common definition. But I haven’t found very inspirational literature for my own project yet. Many articles are treating networks as recruitment or mobilisation resources on an individual level, which is not the focus of my project. The article collection “Social Movements and Networks. Relational Approaches to Collective Action.” edited by Mario Diani and Doug McAdam (2003, Oxford University Press, 348 p.) gave me an idea of methodology, approaches and the necessary terms and definitions. Especially Mario Diani’s article “Networks and Social Movement. A research Programme” in the book mentioned before convinced me that a network analysis can be very fruitful for my project as it approaches social movements in a more dynamic way. He describes how network approaches are not just treating movements as aggregates of events or actors, but are analysing the connectivity of events and identity dynamics. He argues that this approach needs to consider, that the distinctiveness of social movements from other collective actions is their network character.

Bibliography:

Diani, Mario: Introduction: Social Movements, Contentious Actions, and Social Networks: ‘From Metaphor to Substance’? In: Diani, Mario; McAdam, Doug (ed.): Social Movements and Networks. Relational Approaches to Collective Action. Oxford University Press, New York, 2003. P. 1-18.

Diani, Mario: Networks and Social Movements: A Research Programme. McAdam, Doug: Beyond Structural Analysis: Toward a More Dynamic Understanding of Social Movements. In: Diani, Mario; McAdam, Doug (ed.): Social Movements and Networks. Relational Approaches to Collective Action. Oxford University Press, New York, 2003. S. 299-319.

Giugni, Marco; Berclaz, Michel; Füglister, Katharina: La politique contestataire en Suisse. Etat-providence, opportunités et revendications politiques. 2014, Editions Seismo, Zürich und Genf.

McAdam, Doug: Beyond Structural Analysis: Toward a More Dynamic Understanding of Social Movements. In: Diani, Mario; McAdam, Doug (ed.): Social Movements and Networks. Relational Approaches to Collective Action. Oxford University Press, New York, 2003. S. 281-298.

Marchart, Oliver: Die Prekarisierungsgesellschaft. Prekäre Proteste. Politik und Ökonomie im Zeichen der Prekarisierung. transcript Verlag, Bielefeld 2013.

My name is Ondřej Šmigol and I am currently studying modern history at Charles University in Prague. In my research I focus on the post-war British history, especially on the 1970s and 1980s. For my bachelor’s thesis I have written about the miners’ strike of 1984-5. Currently I am researching the punk movement and how it influenced the politics of the Thatcher era.

For my next project, I wanted to do something which was not a straightforward political history. I decided to investigate how punk was formed and grew after the Sex Pistols were founded in 1975, how the ideas of punk resonated in society and if they played any role in the national politics. I am testing my theory that the punk movement was not an absolute opposite of Thatcherism, but actually had a several similar viewpoints. Such as the reliance on the individual. This may have led some punks to vote for the Conservatives.

Especially the first part, founding of punk, is relevant to the study of networks, the theme of the summer school.  I have come to a conclusion British punk was created by a very small group of people, a band concentrated around 430 King’s Road shop. These people formed the punk ideas, sound of punk music and invented the punk look. They also managed the early punk groups. This entourage formed the nucleus of the punk movement. They inspired new punk bands, alternative punk centres in Manchester and Liverpool and attracted tens of thousands of fans.

The transnational aspect should not be overlooked. First true punk bands sprung up in the United States and inspired Malcolm McLaren, proprietor of the 430 King’s Road Shop, to recreate it in Britain. He and his associates created punk as it is understood today and in turn influenced the American scene.

For the summer school I would like to present my research, especially from the aspect of networks, as I have briefly outlined above. I would explore the problematics more deeply. It would focus on the creation of British punk and the people involved. It would also explore the relationship between the American and British scenes.

Key reading: Jon Savage, England’s Dreaming: Sex Pistols and Punk Rock, London 1991.

A seminal work on punk in the 1970s. It explores the various aspects of the punk movement. The personalities behind punk, the bands and their music, the politics and ideas of punk, the social aspects of punk, it is all in there. It is especially useful for the study of punk networks, as it describes all the various relationships of the protagonists.

Bibliography:

Dominic Sandbrook, Seasons in the Sun: The Battle for Britain 1974-1979, London 2013.

A superb book on the 1970s. It covers political, cultural, sport and social history.

Dick Hebdige, Subcultures: The Meaning of Style, London 1979.

An essential book for the study of subcultures.

John Robb, The North Will Rise Again, Manchester Music City 1977-1996, London 2010.

An oral history of the Manchester music scene, in 1970s the main British alternative to London scene.

My dissertation project focuses on the networks and connections of Lou Andreas-Salomé (1861-1937) — intellectual, author and one of the first psychoanalysts. In Biddy Martin’s phrase, she avoided the exclusionary mechanisms of the history of literature solely due to her relationships to “great men”. It is true that no work treating Lou Salomé makes do without referring to Friedrich Nietzsche, Rainer Maria Rilke and/or Sigmund Freud. At the same time, most descriptions — by her contemporaries as in present-day biographies — fall back on stereotypical patterns, and Lou Salomé is received as Nietzsche’s muse and lover, as a motherly figure for Rilke, as Freud’s disciple; or she is defamed altogether as men-devouring femme fatale. Academic literature on Lou Salomé mainly treats her literary and, less frequently, her psychoanalytic oeuvre; her life as an intellectual and her relationships have largely been left to biographers and other commentators.

Moving beyond these narratives I will read Lou Salomé along the paradigmatic lines of friendship: Borrowing from feminist historian Joan W. Scott, I see Salomé not as an examplary figure, but as a “historical marker”, where “crucial political and cultural contests are enacted and can be examined in some detail”. Centering around Lou Salomé, I want to pose the question how friendship can be an emancipatory practice for women. This question centrally entails tracing connections and networks of diverse kinds — flows of ideas, of letters, of emotions.

During the last weeks I have been looking for an approach to friendship both on a micro and a macro scale, i.e. how to reconcile an inquiry into Lou Salomé’s personal networks with a broader interest in the concept of (female) friendship.

Therefore, I have read up on Italian microhistorians, especially Edoardo Grendi and Carlo Ginzburg, and I have also, like Pablo Hernández Sau, stumbled upon Francesca Trivellato’s ”Is there a future for Italian Microhistory in the Age of Global History?”, which provides an good starting point for discussion. (Trivellato2011)

Besides, I have been thinking about whether to visualise those networks I intend to analyse and how I could possibly do it. I found some inspiration here — though, impressive and pretty as these charts and maps are, I am still not sure how much insight there is to gain from them. I’m looking forward to discuss questions like these in St. Andrews!

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Before I went to Basel as a doctoral student just a few months ago, I studied history, political science and cultural studies at the Universities of Freiburg/Br., Leipzig and Zürich.