Lecture Series 2026 - The Politics of Voluntariness. Global and Postcolonial Perspectives

Seven talks and discussions explore and critique established views on the Enlightenment narratives, on subjectivity and self-ownership, on personal and political agency, on work and social reproduction, on migration and security – through the lens of voluntary action and in global and postcolonial perspectives.

Featuring the approach that acting voluntarily is always situational and grounded in conditions of possibility they discuss how people’s voluntary action takes on very different shapes across different times and societies.

All talks take place in the seminar room on the ground floor of the Reserach Building “Weltbeziehungen”, from 6:15pm to 7:45pm. Everybody interested is cordially invited, there is no registration necessary. For more information about the event visit the website of the Research Unit Voluntariness