migration history, post-1989 transformations, music & history, comparative history and theory of history

Why did history after 1989 turn out very differently than was assumed at the time? Philipp Ther has been investigating this question since his appointment at the University of Vienna, both as a social historian, but also as an "89er" who experienced part of the Velvet Revolution in Prague and then lived and researched in East Germany, Czechoslovakia, Poland, and Ukraine for several years in the 1990s. In view of the renaissance of nationalism and increasing illiberalism, the Western triumphalism of that time sounds more than stale today. In order to better understand the transformation after the end of state socialism, the award- winning researcher believes that a broader temporal and spatial perspective is necessary. On the one hand, it is necessary to look back to the 1980s and to some extent to the 1970s, and on the other hand to consider global changes such as the rise, hegemony, and radicalization of neoliberalism and its social consequences. In addition to this macro perspective, Philipp Ther will continue to investigate "transformation from below" in the coming years, i.e. specifically regional and local case studies, social groups such as industrial workers, former cooperative farmers, migrant workers (migration history is also one of his long-standing areas of research), families ,and children. To this end, he has founded the Research Cluster for East Central Europe and the History of Transformations (RECET) with colleagues from Poland, Sweden, Germany, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Croatia and Austria. The award funding now gives him the opportunity to expand this cluster and conduct research in line with the concept of comparative area studies on a European and global level. Among other things, he will focus on growing regional and social inequality, which he considers to be one of the main causes of the crisis of liberal democracy, the EU and the rise of right-wing populism. Methodologically, the center is influenced by Karl Polanyi`s book "The Great Transforma- tion," which opens up a critical view of the transformation as it was understood after 1989. In addition to this larger thematic focus, Philipp Ther plans to continue his earlier research area on history and music in the medium term. He would also like to use the award funds for invitations to foreign guest lecturers and start-up funding. He is particularly pleased that he can now offer younger colleagues longer career prospects in recognition of their achievements.