“Applied Humanities: Genealogy and Politics” is a newly established Center for Advanced Studies in the Humanities and Social Sciences funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) and located at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin.

The Center explores the sociopolitical significance of the humanities in historical, contemporary, and global contexts. In Western modernity, applied research has traditionally been viewed as a universally valid body of knowledge, based on laws and often exploitable for practical gain. In contrast to this view, the Center explores the untapped potential of humanities disciplines to shape and transform society. In this sense, “applied humanities” comprises a global-historical array of practices that transcend disciplinary boundaries and are embedded in political, cultural, and economic frameworks. Beyond merely utilitarian ends, the applied humanities fulfill emancipatory, politically critical functions—for instance, provisioning a particular body of knowledge, developing and transferring particular skills and techniques, reflecting on and recontouring social structures and ways of life, and shaping public discourses.

Our interdisciplinary research group aims to uncover these functions and to enter into an intensive exchange with a group of national and international fellows, associated colleagues, staff, young researchers, and students.