The research area "Identity and Representation" offers various modules for the Bachelor's programme in Political Science and the elective area of the Humanities and Social Sciences. On this page, you will find information on the focal points of the research area as well as on the supervision of theses.
Focal Points
The focus of teaching in the winter semester is on questions of representation, as well as its meanings and implications. Who is overrepresented, who is underrepresented? Is this a problem in terms of democratic theory, or a practical one, or even a problem at all? What can be done, and what are the intended and unintended consequences of the - often identity-political - action?
In the summer semester, we hold lectures and seminares in the project module and the research module, in which students deal with different research topics, practise collecting or analysing data, and thus learn presenting a research process. In addition, the Politics and Law module takes place in the summer semester, which deals with political issues in law, such as the NSU trial, the theatricality of law and the politics of punishment.
In addition, seminars are offered on details of qualitative social research, which largely consist of practising the techniques taught. For example, grounded theory, discourse analysis or the combination of both in a situation analysis according to Adèle Clarke are taught.
Information on Final Theses
The following members of the department are available as supervisors for theses:
- Prof. Rebecca Pates, PhD.
First notify the staff members electronically about your thesis or visit the office hours to discuss your ideas. If necessary, a synopsis will help you to summarise and present your proposal. Observe the institute's time constraints and plan your thesis in good time.
The extent of supervision depends on individual agreement and need.
Examinations: Podcasts
In the past winter semester (2020/21), the module Identity and Representation (under the direction of Prof Rebecca Pates) offered an alternative examination to the usual written assignment. Students were able to develop questions in small groups and work on them as auditory essays ("podcasts"). Some of these auditory essays are linked below, and are intended to give an insight into the students' work within the module.
The auditory essays displayed are in German, but students may also submit work in English in the future.