The Master S Degree Atlantic Studies in History, Culture and Society

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1 Information on the Master s degree Atlantic Studies in History, Culture and Society Basic data: The Master s degree Atlantic Studies in History, Culture and Society is a researchoriented, inter-disciplinary degree course. The regular study period is 4 terms = 120 Credit Points. No course fees are payable apart from the regular course fees stipulated by the Land of Lower Saxony. Students achieve the degree: Atlantic Studies in History, Culture and Society (M. A.). Participating institutes:,,, Department of Religious Science Admission to this degree course is limited. Admission criteria: Bachelors degree or a degree of equal value (at least grade 2.5) in: English/American studies, anthropology, history, cultural sciences, social sciences or related subjects; English as well as at least one further subject based foreign language (preferably French and/or Spanish); Personal statement (refer to admission rules). Applicants from Germany and the EEC Admission to this degree course is limited. German students and EEC-members may apply online, or via the homepage of the Leibniz University Hanover. The application deadline is 15 July of each year. The master s program always starts in October. Applicants from non-eec countries Interested students from non-eec countries shall apply by 31 May of each year via ASSIST. Application shall be made via the registration office of the Leibniz University, Hanover. Profile: The master s degree Atlantic Studies in History, Culture and Society is based on a concept new to the German and the international university landscape, which consciously goes beyond the current disciplinary borders. Against the background of historical and current globalisation processes it introduces the integration between the three continents around the Atlantic in the foreground of study and research, and transcends the traditional focus on national states. In contrast to other study programs concentrating on the interaction between Europe and North America, it comprehensively deals with the complex relationships between Africa, the Americas and Europe, the localisation of global processes and the peculiarities of developments in different areas of the world. The M.A. Atlantic Studies starts with the premise that the three Atlantic continents, Africa, America and Europe have represented parts of a common system for the circulation of goods, ideas and people since the end of the 15th century. The continents are thus inter-connected by a myriad of entanglements of economic, social, cultural and politic nature (the triangular trade with the massive shift of African people to the Americas, the colonisation and comprehensive migratory movements of Europeans, Africans and Latin-Americans among others). This indicates that developments in each of the three continents, since the age of discovery in the 15th century by the latest, no longer can be sufficiently understood as single entities, but only within the framework of reciprocal relationships and influences. The world system theory as well as the post-colonial, cultural and literary studies have already underlined the significance of such an approach. However, recent research findings suggest that the social status of the people involved in the global integration process is not determined only on basis of phenotypic characteristics such as skin colour, ethnic background or structural position as coloniser or 1

2 colonised person, but also on basis of other categories of difference such as class, gender and generation. The current globalisation debate is still dominated by economic and political science approaches, which principally focus on contemporary social macro-processes and on the level of formal institutions. Also, significant parts of the post-colonial theories consider only the edge of the historicity of the integration process and tend to ignore the main differences in the various colonial projects and the structure of post-colonial areas. In contrast, this M.A. Atlantic Studies program links a decidedly comparative and historical viewpoint with a more detailed consideration of informal structures, processes on the middle and micro levels, actors as well as cultural patterns of interpretation. Hereby, among other things, cultural and literary studies as well as cultural anthropological approaches play a major part in the analysis of exchange, domination and unequal relations in the Atlantic Space. Critical reviews of the world system approach (Wallerstein) have already indicated that developments in peripheral regions do not simply derive from the dynamism of the dominant centres, respectively the global markets. Writers like Sidney Mintz, June Nash, Carol Smith or William Roseberry thus rightly highlight the significance of local requirements and local actors and point out the dialectic connection between global and local forces. Research into global and societal structures and processes can indeed only demonstrate the general framework for specific agencies and actions as the latter feed above all on the particular local, respectively regional environments. This M.A. Atlantic Studies in History, Culture and Society course combines approaches of global history and historical anthropology, literary and cultural studies, development sociology and cultural anthropology with newer viewpoints on gender and inequality research. The master s program stands out due to its inter-disciplinary character and the integrated observation of Africa, Latin America including the Caribbean, but also the USA and Great Britain, for which the participating staff members have a special expertise. However, unlike the Area Studies the Hanover program does not regard the three continents as separate entities, but takes them as one subject with a particular focus on their entanglements. Europe is hereby used neither as an explicit nor implicit model for historical processes in other parts of the world. Rather the study program aims at showing the interwovenness of European and overseas developments since the early modern times. The aforementioned topics and considerations are subjects of ongoing research projects at Hanover University whose results flow directly into teaching. The concept of the degree course thus enables European topics to be treated in an Atlantic and global context, respectively relate outside Europe topics to Europe. The degree course Master Atlantic Studies in History, Culture and Society attends to the problems of the bondage to location and stance of scientific thinking. The students learn how to research social phenomena from different perspectives and how to work in a trans-disciplinary and comparative way. Comprehensive self-study, independent and team-oriented work of the students as well as critical self-reflection constitute the didactic concept of the research orientated M.A. Atlantic Studies. Study contents Obligatory courses Inter-disciplinary theory and method modules Basic module Theory and Methods (10 CP) Advanced module Research Debates (10 CP) 2

3 Project modules Practice: Internship with international focus or foreign research project or field research project (30 CP) Learning Research (6 CP) Professionalization (4 CP) Master s thesis (30 CP) Elective obligatory courses 3 of the following topic modules (30 CP): Globalisation and Trans-Cultural Spaces Inequality, Dominance, Difference Social, Religious and Cultural Movements Violence and the Regulation of Conflict Cultural Anthropology The basic module Theory and Methods introduces the relevant theoretical as well as methodological approaches and methods of the participating disciplines. The aim is to show the specifics of the respective disciplinary approaches as well as the opportunities and limits for their inter-disciplinary merger. The focus is on the comparison of textual and context-oriented approaches, historical micro-research, qualitative empirical social research analysis of structures and processes and comparison between cultures and societies. In the advanced module Research debates the students concern themselves with the academic debates regarding the production of social, historical and cultural knowledge in the disciplines that are part of the degree course (e.g. area studies vs. global history, cultural transfers vs. trans-culturalism). The topic modules reflect the themes of the degree course. They concentrate on selected topics, which are of central importance for the understanding of the complex interaction processes in the Atlantic region, particularly actor oriented and culture comparative perspectives. Here, the students shall apply the theoretical framework acquired in the basic module to the specific objects of learning and research. The module Globalisation and Trans-Cultural Spaces presents a concept of space that enables qualified research into the historical roots of current globalisation processes. It concerns itself with complex entanglements between local, regional and international actors, institutions, concepts or processes. The module Inequality, Dominance, Difference attends to the interference of differentiation categories such as gender, class, ethnic origin / race and age and the construction of inequality. The module Cultural Anthropology concentrates on smaller societal units (families, village communities, corporations etc.) and their methods of communication and action as well as the rhythm of life of people, from a comparative and linkage related viewpoint. The module Social, Religious and Cultural Movements focuses on such movements that have emerged in connection with processes of culture contact, the expansion of centralised rule and social inequality within individual countries or regions and thus also deals with the reaction of social groups to historical and current globalisation processes. The module Violence and Regulation of Conflict treats the causes, forms, developments and consequences (of violent) social conflicts, as they emerge in the framework of globalisation processes and the spread of centralised rule. It also discusses the significance of certain differentiation criteria (such as gender, age, class or ethnic origin) for the genesis and development of conflicts and violence in different historical periods and regional contexts. 3

4 In the module Learning Research the students work in groups, under the supervision of teachers, on research projects and present the results at workshops. Such projects can be situated in any of the participating disciplines and refer to all regions of the world. During this project work the students shall develop a specific research interest, which is followed up further in the module Practice and/or in the Master s thesis. In the module Practice (as a rule comprising an internship or research stay abroad, or alternatively an internship in Germany with an international bias, for example in the foreign department or with NGO s), the students can establish relevant networks in view of their future career and develop linguistic and inter-cultural competences. The selection of three of the five topic modules as well as the work in the module Learning Research, the module Practice and in the Master s thesis should enable the students to develop a specific thematic, regional, trans-disciplinary and technical focus. The students shall prepare a research oriented Master s Thesis in one of the participating disciplines. A trans-disciplinary focus and supervision of the thesis are highly encouraged. Employability Graduates of the degree course M.A. Atlantic Studies are qualified to adopt an academic career or take up key jobs in scientific, political and culture institutions and bring special multidisciplinary competence and knowledge of global inter-linkages to these jobs. The students of the inter-disciplinary degree course qualify, among others for the following career fields: Universities, high schools and non-university research institutes Science policies and management Adult education Media, journalism, publishers Culture management, culture organisation, marketing, publicity Policy consultancy international government institutions, respectively non-government organisations (NGOs) Foundations with international orientation International business companies and associations Diversity Management Archives, libraries and museums. Research fields In addition to the expertise in the classic disciplines (English and American Studies, history, cultural anthropology, sociology and religious sciences), the instructors of the master s program Atlantic Studies in History, Culture and Society stand out due to their comprehensive knowledge with regard to Africa, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean. The key for the analysis of interdependencies between the social transformations in the countries of the south and the north is the awareness that the social processes in one country can only be adequately understood in their interconnectedness with other world regions and that local developments are always connected with global ones and follow their own logic. Current research subjects of the teaching staff are: multi-culturalism/ ethnicity, trans-cultural representations, transformation of gender relations, trans-local spaces and processes, global communities and cities, internationalisation of conflict fields, migration/flight, glocalisation, establishment and limits of state governance, north- 4

5 south asymmetry, legal pluralism, difference and conflict, (un)free labour relationships in colonial and post-colonial societies. Staff, Teaching and Research, Contact Information Prof. Dr. Dr. Peter Antes Institute of Theology and Religious Science, Department of Religious Science "Methodology of Religious Science, Islamic Ethic, Religious Communities" antes mbox.rewi.uni-hannover.de Dr. Ingo Bultmann "Latin America - Social Movements, Environment, Protection of Resources" i.bultmann ish.uni-hannover.de Prof. Dr. Detlev Claussen "Social Theory, Sociology of Cultures and Science" d.claussen ish.uni-hannover.de Prof. Dr. Rainer Emig "English and Cultural Studies, Theories of Literature and Culture, War and Violence, Postcolonial Literatures and Theories, Gender Studies" rainer.emig eng.sem.uni-hannover.de Steffen Führding, M.A. Institute of Theology and Religious Science, Department of Religious Science "History of Religious Science, Religious Pluralism" fuehrding rewi.uni-hannover.de Prof. Dr. Claus Füllberg-Stolberg "Plantation Economy in the Americas, Modern History" claus.fuellberg-stolberg hist.uni-hannover.de PD Dr. Katja Füllberg-Stolberg "African and African American History" c.stolberg yahoo.de Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Gabbert "Latin America, Sociology of Delopment, Cultural Anthroplogy, Ethnohistory" w.gabbert ish.uni-hannover.de Prof. Dr. Jana Gohrisch "English Studies / New English Literatures" jana.gohrisch engsem.uni-hannover.de 5

6 Ellen Grünkemeier, M.A. "English Studies / New English Literatures" ellen.gruenkemeier engsem.uni-hannover.de Vanessa Künnemann, M.A. "New American Studies" v.kuennemann engsem.uni-hannover.de Dr. Eva Kalny "Cultural Anthropology" e.kalny ish.uni-hannover.de Prof. Dr. Ruth Mayer "New American Studies" ruth.mayer engsem.uni-hannover.de PD Dr. Sabine Müller "Ancient History, Comparative Study of Historical Epochs, Iconography" sabine.mueller hist.uni-hannover.de Prof. Dr. Brigitte Reinwald "History of Africa, particularly Social and Cultural History of West and East Africa, Theory of History, Gender Studies" brigitte.reinwald hist.uni-hannover.de PD Dr. Kirsten Rüther "History of Africa, particularly History of Southern Africa" kirsten.ruether hist.uni-hannover.de Prof. Dr. Karl-Heinz-Schneider "Regional History, Economic and Social History of the United States of America karl-heinz.schneider hist.uni-hannover.de PD Dr. Ulrike Schmieder / Coordinator Transformation Studies "History of Latin America and the Caribbean" u.schmieder hist.uni-hannover.de 6

7 Dr. Gustav-Adolf-Schoener Institute of Theology and Religious Science, Department of Religious Science "History of European Religion, Critis of Religion, Philosophy of Religion" schoener mbox.rewi.uni-hannover.de Anton Weise, M.A. "History of the Middle Ages" weise hist.uni-hannover.de 7