This year, the number of applications was higher than ever before and there were also many outstanding works, making it difficult for the selection committee to make a decision. The Max-Weber-Kolleg therefore increased the prize by 100 euros and awarded the prize to four young researchers:
Lars Döpking was awarded the prize for his doctoral dissertation “Fiskalisierte Herrschaft. Transformationen des italienischen Steuerstaats, 1946–2018”, which unfolds the significance of a seemingly dry topic for Italy's social development in a vivid and understandable way.
Anna Horstmann's doctoral dissertation “Frauen im Labor. Chemikerinnen und Laborantinnen in der deutschen Chemieindustrie von 1900 bis 1990” traces how long and consistently women were discriminated against in one of Germany's key industries.
In his doctoral dissertation „Die Beziehungsqualität der materiellen Welt. Perspektiven einer weltbeziehungssoziologischen Analyse von Materialität”, Martin Repohl developed and tested a new method for recording material objects and their significance for our relationship to the world.
Finally, in his historical doctoral dissertation “Kollektive Disziplinierung. Die Transformation totalitärer Herrschaft nach Stalin und Mao”, Martin Wagner analysed the social changes following totalitarian rule.
Professor Hartmut Rosa, Director of the Max-Weber-Kolleg, thanked Sparkassenstiftung Erfurt for the funding: “We are very proud to be able to award the Max Weber Prize for Early Career Research to young researchers once again with the help of Sparkassenstiftung Erfurt and wish them all every success in their respective academic careers.”