Using funds from the DFG (Leibniz Prize 2003), a research program on ‘Cultural Theory and Theory of the Political Imaginary’
has been created at the University of Constance, beginning October 1, 2003.
The research initiative consists of three components:
1) The organizational core is a coordination office, consisting of the position of a coordinator, including equipment
and funds for research assistants and materials and possibly a doctoral candidate, who could be financed externally if need be.
2) The research program includes a position for a Visiting Professor, covering a period of up to six months per year
(if possible in the summer, for a minimum of two months during a Constance semester). The invitation is preferably given
to foreign academics whose work forms a significant contribution to the field of cultural theory or to the theory of the political imaginary.
The visiting professorship can be complemented by a position of research assistant, to be chosen by the current occupant.
This should increase the attractivity of a research stay of several months, particularly for American colleagues. In individual cases
this second position could also be awarded separately as an independent visiting lecturer.
3) The research initiative should additionally form the basis of operations for a research team for cultural theory and theory of the political imaginary,
which should meet approximately once per year in Constance or another appropriate location – with a stable core of members,
but with varying guests, depending on the topic under consideration. Ideally, the visiting academics in
Constance should play a central role in the choice of topics.
Events are organized by the coordination office and/or affiliated scholars and organizations.
There is a committee in charge of the organizational activities of the Research Initiative. Its members are:
Prof. Dr. Friedrich Balke (Bauhaus-Universität Weimar)