College UA Ruhr: Features

FEATURES

The FEATURES section is a digital space for miscellaneous editorial content illuminating the College’s research activities. It accommodates academic articles, essays, reviews, and blog posts, as well as interviews and portraits. The purpose of this format is to provide insights into research at the College, display different perspectives within the social sciences and humanities on current debates, and reflect the variety of research fields. The section also spotlights individual researchers with their projects. The authors and contributors are regularly College members and Senior Fellows.

Latest Posts

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Imran Sabir sitting on a public bench in the city centre of Essen, looking at the camera, holding a newspaper in his hands. In the background there are buildings and trees.

The Sociology of Public Sitting: What Essen’s Benches Reveal About Intergenerational Relationships

“If you want to understand society, don’t read theory. Watch people striving for a shady spot at 3 pm on a bright sunny day.” – Through the analytical eyes of a sociologist, Imran Sabir observes everyday public sitting in this blog post, revealing the social fabric and dynamics behind seemingly random actions revolving around public benches in the city of Essen. By establishing a ‘sitology’ in its…

photo of Florian Fastenrath standing in the conference hall of the College

The Political Economy of Inequality

Socio-economic inequality is increasing in Germany. Nonetheless, redistribution is not a priority on the political agenda. Florian Fastenrath investigates how inequality is publicly perceived and addressed in politics. His research group ‘Political Economy of Inequality’ analyses what factors obstruct or enable progressive policies.

collage of photos: facade of a large housing block; a list of homeless activists' demands; a small model house followed by the letters L E S S on Scrabble tokens

Homelessness Activism – Contesting Private Property from Below

In order to investigate the attitudes and demands of homeless activist groups, researchers of the PostdocLab working group 'Urban Conflicts and Property' conducted a workshop with homeless activists from different German cities. Among other aspects, the activists criticise the capitalist logic of the housing market and see homelessness as a structural problem.

Matthias Kranke leaning against a bannister infront of a large wooden door

The Political Dimension of Sustainability on a Global Scale

The ecological crisis is a global phenomenon, its effects do not stop at national borders. Matthias Kranke examines global sustainability issues from a political perspective. In this interview, we learn more about the focus of his research group ‘Global Sustainability Governance’ and what motivates him.

Elena Beregow standing in the foyer of the building where the College is located, entrance door in the background

Exploring the Relationship between Temperature and Society in the Age of Global Warming

People sweat – but who sweats under what circumstances is primarily a question of social conditions. Sociologist Elena Beregow investigates the relationship between temperature and society, particularly in the context of the climate crisis. As newly appointed junior professor, she will establish the research group ‘Sweat – Sociology of Transpiration in the Age of Global Warming’.

Althea Greenan in her office, working with slides and a print of artworks

Animating Archives – Curating Women’s Art, Bringing Marginalised Histories to Life

Althea Greenan is curator of the Women’s Art Library (WAL) at Goldsmiths, University of London – a collection of various forms of art documentation with a focus on women artists’ collective work in the UK dating from 1900 to the present. During her fellowship, Althea is working on a project that centres on archiving as an emancipatory tool for political participation.

Matebeni giving a lecture, standing in front of a speaker's desk, behind her the blue College banner

How South African Visual Culture and Performance Resonate in a German Context

Zethu Matebeni and Henriette Gunkel worked together as tandem partners in the Senior Fellowship Programme during the winter term 2024/25. Their collaboration is based on a long-standing partnership between the University of Fort Hare in South Africa and Ruhr University Bochum.