About ReCentGlobe
Leipzig Research Centre Global Dynamics (ReCentGlobe) is a central institution of Leipzig University. ReCentGlobe is dedicated to the investigation of globalisation projects in the past and present in a broad interdisciplinary cooperation. More than 200 members from various faculties and disciplines work together at the centre. They cooperate with the Graduate School Global and Area Studies in the (further) education of young academics. The centre features several labs for global cooperation, digital humanities, science communication and knowledge transfer.
A Different Approach to Globalisation
Globalisation is the most widespread social diagnosis today. However, it is not an invisible hand behind the actors' backs, but results from the interaction of many different actors in all parts of our planet to globalise the world according to their respective ideas and interests.
ReCentGlobe examines these globalisation projects comparatively in the past and present, across continents and oceans.
These globalisation projects are changing the world and bringing individual societies into an interdependence that can no longer be resolved. New global challenges are constantly being identified and require new constellations of actors in order to overcome them.
This gives rise to the centre's overarching research questions:
- What are the consequences of the convergence of different globalisation projects as a result of accelerated communication and transport options?
- How does the intertwining of different globalisation projects affect the fragmentation and cohesion of societies?
- Universalist narratives of the unity of the world suggest that the respective globalisation project allows us to model the world largely according to ideas that are specific to it - How do we deal with the tension between these universalist narratives and the limited experiences and expectations that lie behind them?
These questions are addressed by the research areas of ReCentGlobe by placing various social dimensions, world regions and actors at the centre of their investigations.