Lecture and Master Class by Malte Fuhrmann from the Leibniz Zentrum Moderner Orient (ZMO)

At the invitation of the IfL CoMoDe research group, the historian and Balkan expert Dr Malte Fuhrmann from the Leibniz Zentrum Moderner Orient (ZMO) will give a lecture on „Infrastructure, Emotions, and Politics in Southeast Europe, 1839–1956“ and hold a master class entitled „Roads to Power Revisited: Critical Approaches to Hegemony in Infrastructure History“.

Lecture

In his talk on 24 April, 1.30 pm, at the Leibniz Institute for Regional Geography Dr Malte Fuhrmann will show, how fundamental societal issues, such as conservation of the natural and archaeological heritage, the expectations to and therefore understanding of the modern state as well as state force and exploitation in pursuit of acclaimed public interest are negotiated through the figure of infrastructure. The focus is on the question what desires, models, and visions of the future the prospect of infrastructure development brought forth, but also which anxieties, scapegoating, and tensions were produced when discussing modes of connectivity.

Interested parties are welcome! Participation is free of charge.

Master Class

With the Belt and Road Initiative as well as the 2022 bitter reminder to Europeans of the vital role infrastructure can play both in conventional and asymmetrical warfare, the relationship of infrastructure and power relations has once again taken centerstage in historiographic debate. The seminar on „Roads to Power Revisited: Critical Approaches to Hegemony in Infrastructure History“ that takes place on 25 April 2023, 10:30–12:30 and 14:00–16:00 at the Leibniz Institute for Regional Geography therefore aims to reassess some older and some more recent approaches to infrastructure history and assess their potential to explain hegemonic relations revolving around matters of communication lines.

The master class preferably aimes at doctoral students and postdocs. Please register by 21 April in order to receive the literature for the Master class to: l_pozharliev(at)leibniz-ifl.de