Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU), Interdisciplinary Centre for European Enlightenment Studies (IZEA), offers a temporary position as part of the “Politics of the Enlightenment” Research Training Group (RTG 2999/1), funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2030 (60 months), as a Scientific Employee (m-f-d) Full time.

“Politics of the Enlightenment” Research Training Group

The Research Training Group (RTG) examines the politics of the Enlightenment from the 18^th century to today. Its approach is twofold: firstly, it asks – in terms of the genitivus subjectivus

how both the historical Enlightenment of the 18^th century and also later Enlightenment enterprises think and act in a political sense. Secondly, it questions – in terms of the genitivus objectivus – how the conception of Enlightenment is constructed and perpetually renewed through political aims and decisions: How does the Enlightenment shape politics? And how do politics shape the Enlightenment?

The group addresses central concepts, narratives, images, and mental figures through which the 18^th century Enlightenment shaped politics as well as the way in which “Enlightenment” and ociateociated concepts have been understood from the 19^th to the 21^st century and deployed in political discussions. These perspectives form a factual correlation, for the politics of the 18^th century Enlightenment are more than a mere series of static views or assertions, i.e., the primacy of reason or justice: the Enlightenment was and remains a future-oriented project. On the other hand, looking back on this project, it has been interpreted in many different ways, both historically and as a general concept. This process has yet to reach its conclusion, as “Enlightenment,” unlike the names of most historical periods, is still a point of reference appropriated in political discourse.

Today, the Enlightenment research at the core of this RTG covers a wide spectrum, with excellent international networks and highly differentiated approaches (history of political thought, conceptual history, social history, cultural history). It considers and emphasizes the diversity, complexity, and inconsistency of the historical Enlightenment. Also frequently cited is the political momentum of the Enlightenment: Conceptual history and research on the origins of the public sphere are particularly fruitful in this domain. One desideratum even today, however, is a more all-encompassing examination of our interpretations, uses, and appropriations of Enlightenment, all of which – especially in a more general context – have a significant effect on history. The RTG utilizes the aforementioned methods and combines them with incentives stemming from recent reflections on the Enlightenment, most notably postcolonial theory, to address this need for a more global approach.

We work off the assumption that the ambiguity and agonism of the Enlightenment are connected to its political character. Enlightenment has always been a political endeavor, as it aims to change the world and therefore takes action within it; at the same time, it is also always part of political power and interest constellations. This can lead to its often-universal assertions and claims actually serving particular interests, an accusation also made by post- and decolonial theorists with regards to “European universalism.” In examining this tension, the RTG aims to distinguish between politics and the political: whereas the notion of politics represents concrete decisions and processes, the political describes the (predominantly implicit) presuppositions made in the process. These two factors find themselves in a dialogic relationship, allowing for a differentiated analysis of both the internal perspective of Enlightenment discourses and the external perspective of their limitations and exclusions.

This tension is apparent even in the historical Enlightenment: it colors the conflict-laden relationship between political beliefs and political reality, the self-glorification of Enlightenment philosophers as politically effective thinkers despite often-limited possibilities to effect change, and the constant debates between different groups over who represents the “true” Enlightenment. Due to this controversy, we avoid defining the concept of Enlightenment, choosing instead to work with four major axes that determine the politics of the historical Enlightenment and that continue to be used today when referring to Enlightenment: civilization, the public sphere, secularity, and plurality. These all delineate problem areas for which complex, multifaceted theoretical and practical solutions were already being developed and tested in the 18^th century. They also serve a structural role for the RTG, as every dissertation project falls under (at least) one of these axes and is linked to the others in the “axes seminar.”

The tension inherent to the politics of the Enlightenment also determines its impact, reception, and post-history. This is why the Enlightenment is controversial today: because it has repeatedly been defined in new and different ways, throughout the 19^th and 20^th centuries and even today. It is precisely the political core of the Enlightenment – namely, its relationship to the French Revolution – that has been and continues to be reinterpreted in new ways. Thus, it is necessary, from a hermeneutic standpoint, to think about the Enlightenment and its impact, i.e., interpretations, applications, appropriations, and adoptions thereof, as two sides of the same coin. It is only through its post-history that we can understand why the Enlightenment is still generally understood today as both a historical epoch and a contemporary project or one needing to be brought into the 21^st century.

Even in a more general sense, the Enlightenment did not end around 1800; it continues to be taken up time and time again for projects of modernization, improvement, liberation, etc., which often make emphatic reference to Enlightenment ideals. These movements are as diverse as they are contradictory, and there is a dearth of research concerning them. They often grind away at the hegemony of the “West” and develop critical alternatives that make it possible to understand the limits of the Enlightenment in new ways. It is an explicit goal of our RTG to open dialogue between these critical positions and Enlightenment research, while also emphasizing its sociopolitical relevance today, a time filled with heated debates about the meaning of the Enlightenment.

Our detailed qualification program brings together a diverse range of mandatory and elective courses and support for participants’ autonomy. A broad spectrum of interconnected formats – including the research group colloquium, the axes seminar, workshops, retreats, and volunteer working groups – ensure rapid team building, fruitful discussions, and a synergistic effect between the group members. Visiting scholars and Mercator Fellows give the RTG its distinctly international character.

Work Tasks

• Development of a research project (“Habilitation”) within the Research Training Group’s thematic spectrum.
• Assistance with Research Training Group activities.
• The research and training objectives of the Research Training Group are available via a link in the announcement of the Martin Luther Universities homepage.

Prerequisites

• A scientific University degree in one of the areas of study involved in the Research Training Group (Englishstudies, American studies, German studies, Romance studies, comparative literature, history, cultural history,philosophy, political science).
• Very good dissertation results.
• We are seeking a postdoctoral research project with a focus beyond the European space, preferably pro-jects concerning cultural spaces like Africa, the Middle East, or Asia, which have not received enough atten-tion in research to date, as well as projects with a comparative perspective or shedding light on intercon-nections between different spaces around the world.
• Publications within the Research Training Group’s field of work.
• Experience with international academic cooperation.
• Openness to interdisciplinary collaboration.
• Very good language skills in German and English. Further language skills are desirable.
• Strong communicative and social skills.

We offer you

• An open, motivating, interdisciplinary, and international research context.
• A structured qualification program for university and non-university career paths.
• A high degree of autonomy for your own research project, with your own budget.
• Active support for research and career training through a network of responsible scholars.
• Funds for research stays abroad.
• Financial support and (if desired) academic advising for publications.
• The opportunity to gain teaching experience.

Compensation will depend on the tasks assigned and the fulfillment of the personal requirements, up tosalary group 13 TV-L.

More information about compensation.

Application Requirements

An exposé of your research project of no more than 10 pages (additionally, a schedule and a summary ofthe planned structure). This should demonstrate a methodologically well-reflected research question withinterdisciplinary implications within the thematic framework of the Research Training Group.

• A CV including a list of publications (and, if applicable, a list of courses taught).
• A statement of purpose (with two suggestions for topics and formats for events that could be organizedwithin the Research Training Group, e.g., seminars, workshops, conferences).
• Your dissertation.
• Copies of all relevant transcripts.
• Certificates of employment, if applicable.

The applications of persons with disabilities with equal skills and aptitude will be given preference. We strongly encourage women to apply.

Applicants with degrees from non-German universities must submit a Statement ofComparability of Foreign Higher Education Qualifications issued by the Central Office for Foreign Education.

Please address any questions to Prof. Dr. Elisabeth Décultot, email: graduiertenkolleg.pda@izea.uni-halle.de.

Please submit your application to Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Interdisziplinäres Zentrum für dieErforschung der Europäischen Aufklärung (IZEA), Prof. Dr. Elisabeth Décultot, 06099 Halle (Saale),

by 4 November 2024.

Please remember to indicate your Reg. No.: 4-7744/24-D.

If possible, please send your application documents by email (in a single PDF document) with the subject “Application Documents RTGPost-Doc Position” and your Reg. No. to: graduiertenkolleg.pda@izea.uni-halle.de.

This listing is made subject to possible budgetary restrictions. Any application costs shall not be reimbursed by Martin Luther University. Application documents shall only be returned if an addressed return envelope with sufficient postage is enclosed. Electronic applications are preferred.

Compensation will depend on the tasks assigned and the fulfillment of the personal requirements, up tosalary group 13 TV-L.