Partially inherited from Enlightenment thought, the opposition of emotion to reason, body to mind, and natural sciences to social sciences has resulted in the marginalisation of the study of emotions and affects by devaluing them within the latter. The study of emotions requires a multidisciplinary approach. Our objective is to discuss emotions in a broad sense using diverse media. This call is therefore intended for a wide range of disciplines, regions, and time periods.

Experiencing the Elusive: Understanding Emotions in Social Sciences - Doctoral workshop - May 26th and 27th at Campus Condorcet, Aubervilliers

Argument

Partially inherited from Enlightenment thought, the opposition of emotion to reason, body to mind, and natural sciences to social sciences has resulted in the marginalisation of the study of emotions and affects by devaluing them within the latter (Perriard & Van de Velde, 2021). Although they were addressed throughout the 20th century across various disciplines—without, however, occupying a central role—from Émile Durkheim and Max Weber in sociology to the Annales School in history, emotions truly found their place in the social sciences starting in the 1990s. Even if this theme was already present, it gained visibility to the point of creating a genuine trend in the research world, notably following what was later termed the "affective turn" (Clough, 2008).

The study of emotions requires a multidisciplinary approach (Davidson & al., 2008). Our objective is to discuss emotions in a broad sense using diverse media. This call is therefore intended for a wide range of disciplines, regions, and time periods. Two axes are proposed for the study of emotions:

Axis I: Emotions as a Research Theme

The understanding and expression of emotions change from one era to another and vary according to individuals, societies, and spaces (Corbin & al., 2016). While they are deeply affected by the outside world, they equally possess the power to shape social and political dynamics, both at the individual and collective levels. Over the last two decades, particularly with the accelerated dissemination of information and the rise of social media, the role of emotions has been observed with greater acuity—notably in the political field through environmental struggles or movements such as #MeToo and Black Lives Matter (Perriard & Van de Velde, 2021). Revisiting research subjects or sources previously thought to be exhausted through this emotional lens is likely to offer a more exhaustive analysis, revealing what had hitherto remained unnoticed (Özkoray, 2022). The study of emotions is thus now considered an important analytical prism crossing multiple research fields to better understand societies.

Axis II: The Researcher Facing Emotions

Furthermore, while emotions constitute an object of study for researchers, they also flow through them and can mobilise them (Guinard & Tratnjek, 2016). A historian’s feelings when facing archives, or the emotions experienced by a sociologist or ethnographer during interactions in thefield, can influence the research process or even destabilise the researcher psychologically. This affective involvement can consequently complicate the scientific approach, raising methodological, epistemological, and even ethical challenges. Through these study days, we aim to provide researchers and students with a platform for exchange and discussion of their own scientific and personal experiences.

The doctoral students of the three organising institutions (CETOBaC-EHESS, Galatasaray University, and the Institute for Mediterranean Studies in Rethymno) invite you to participate in these doctoral workshop, which will be held on May 26 and 27, 2026, at Campus Condorcet, Aubervilliers, hosted by the Center for Turkish, Ottoman, Balkan, and Central Asian Studies (CETOBaC) and the EHESS.

Practical Modalities

This call is primarily addressed to doctoral students, but is also open to Master’s students.

Candidates are invited to submit a paper proposal by March 31, 2026.

Proposals should be sent to the following address: journeesdoctorales2026@gmail.com.

These presentations may incorporate personal experience feedback or rely on multimedia materials (images, sound recordings). Each participant will have 30 minutes of speaking time. The detailed program will be defined based on the selected proposals to facilitate the organisation of discussions.

Proposals should be sent as an attachment and must include a title, five keywords, and a text of approximately 300 words.

Applicants are asked to specify the nature of any media or support materials they intend to use.

Please ensure that your name and institutional affiliation are clearly stated in the email subject line. Authors will be notified of the committee's decision by April 17,2026.

Within the limits of its resources, the workshop organisers will cover the travel and accommodation costs of certain participants.

For further information, please contact the email address above.

Organising committee

• Mehdi BELASRI
• Solène POYRAZ
• Berkay ŞEN