Welcome to the Cluster of Excellence at the
Bonn Center for Dependency & Slavery Studies
"Beyond Slavery and Freedom:
Asymmetrical Dependencies in Pre-Modern Societies"
We are a research cluster within the framework of the Excellence Strategy of the German federal and state governments.
We investigate profound social dependencies such as slavery, serfdom, debt bondage, and other forms of permanent dependency across epochs, regions and cultures.
Our focus lies "beyond slavery and freedom", i.e. we aim to overcome the binary opposition of "free" and "unfree".
Instead, we propose the new key concept of "asymmetrical dependency" to explore all forms of bondages across time and space.
BCDSS 2024: A Year in Highlights
Bild © Bonn Center for Dependency and Slavery Studies / YouTube
BCDSS 2024: A Year in Highlights
2024 was filled with milestones. Watch our highlights video to see what we accomplished together – thank you for being part of our journey!
Enmeshed & Entwined: FABRICS OF DEPENDENCY
Bild © Bonn Center for Dependency and Slavery Studies / YouTube
BCDSS exhibition launches digitally!
What can textiles – coarse cloth or fine silks, work and household linen, clothes in different styles and fashions – tell us about different forms of dependency: enslavement, serfdom, forced labour, or in our own day, factory work in the Global South?
Visit our digital exhibition ‘Enmeshed and Entwined: Fabrics of Dependency/Verstrickt und Verwoben: Texturen der Abhängigkeit’ and let our "quilted narratives" help you explore these and further questions.
News
© BCDSS
Book Launch7
Join us for the launch of Enslavement in the Atlantic World Sites of Remembrance, Sites of Silence in France and Spain, Martinique and Cuba by BCDSS affiliate Ulrike Schmieder.
The author examines historical sites of enslavement and profit transfer, museums, monuments and commemorative ceremonies in France and Spain, Martinique and Cuba. In interviews in the European capitals and seaports, she has determined who has campaigned for or against the commemoration of the African prisoners. In the Caribbean, the author spoke with descendants of enslaved people about their memories of enslavement, experiences with racism, and local memorials. In this way, the legacy of enslavement and the racial inequality that shaped it came to light.
In the context of the cultural heritage boom, sites of remembrance related to slavery and colonialism have become arenas of social conflict. This became particularly evident in 2020 during the Black Lives Matter movement. During the International Decade for People of African Descent (2015–2024), discussions in Europe, Africa, and the Americas have focused on how slavery should be remembered, who should apologize to whom, and who should compensate whom.
This book is intended not only for researchers and students of history and related disciplines but also for anyone interested in the decolonization of memory culture and historical politics.
Date: Monday, 14 April
Time: 16.00
Location: Bonner Universitätsforum (Heussallee 18 - 24 · 53113 Bonn)
Program
16:00 - 16:10 Uhr - Introduction by Ulrike Schmieder
16:10 - 16:30 Uhr - Presentation by Stephan Conermann
16:30 - 17:00 Uhr - Short input from the panelists (Julia Binter, Magnus Ressel and Teresa Göltl)
17:00 - 17:30 Uhr - Discussion, moderated by Stephan Conermann
17:30 - 18:00 Uhr - Q&A with the audience
18:00 - 19:00 Uhr - Reception
© BCDSS
The Matis' Tattoo Celebration (90'): Film screening8
Join us on 25 March, 2025 for the screening of 'Matses Muxan Akadakit', a captivating movie about the Matis tattoo celebration directed by the indigenous Matis people.
© BCDSS
CfP: Heterarchies and Power Dynamics in Post-Roman Europe (4th-10th century AD)9
The Transdisciplinary Research Area (TRA) Present Pasts invites interdisciplinary contributions from archaeology, history, art history, and related fields to uncover the diverse and nonlinear processes that influenced the transition from antiquity to the medieval world.
© BCDSS
New Co-edited Volume in DSS Series10
Congratulations to BCDSS Research Group Leader Dr. Sinah Kloß and PhD Researchers Lena Muders and Taynã Tagliati on their new co-edited volume in the BCDSS Book Series "Dependency and Slavery Studies" (DSS)
© BCDSS
"California, A Slave State": A Reading & Discussion with Jean Pfaelzer and Damian Pargas11
The event is part of our (UN-)ABHÄNGIGE ANSICHTEN series and in cooperation with Amerikahaus-NRW.
© BCDSS
New Publication in the Series Dependency & Slavery Studies - Volume 16 Is Out Now!12
The new volume is edited by former BCDSS Fellow Mònica Ginés-Blasi and includes contributions by several BCDSS members.
© BCDSS
Women's Agency in Academia13
Join us on March 10th, 2025, from 14:00-16:00, for what is promosing to be a powerful discussion on overcoming challenges related to gender identities within academic settings. The event aims to highlight the increasing presence of women in academia, demonstrate their strength and resilience in overcoming obstacles, and inspire younger academics who are embarking on their journeys in higher education.
This is an invitation to representatives of all genders. Men are particularly welcome to join the conversation!
With Prof. Dr. Chioma Daisy Onyige and Prof. Dr. Natalie Joy, we have two senior academics at the BCDSS of international calibre, who are happy to share their personal experiences. They will be joined by two equally remarkable researchers and alumnae of the Center for International Development (ZEF): Dr. Rabia Chaudhry and Dr. Dennis Avilés Irahola.
This hybrid event is jointly organised by the Center for Development Research (ZEF) and the Bonn Center for Dependency and Slavery (BCDSS) at the University of Bonn. The event location is ZEF (details below).
Please register for the event if you would like to take part remotely (details below).
© BCDSS
Call for Papers: Special Issue "Slaveries and Human Remains"14
Together with Magali Bessone (University Paris 1 Sorbonne) and Ricardo Roque (University of Lisbon), BCDSS Postdoctoral Guest Researcher Dr. Klara Boyer Rossol is calling for papers on "Slaveries and Human Remains" for their co-edited special issue of the journal Slaveries & Post-Slaveries.
Events
The Matis' Tattoo Celebration (90'): Film screening16
Seminar room 1.002, ...
05:00 PM - 09:00 PM
Join us on 25 March, 2025 for the screening of 'Matses Muxan Akadakit', a captivating movie about the Matis tattoo celebration directed by the indigenous Matis ...
Joseph C. Miller Memorial Lecture by Jeremiah Coogan17
HYBRID event: On site ...
04:15 PM - 05:45 PM
What if enslaved and formerly enslaved literary workers played a crucial role in the composition of the Synoptic Gospels?
This lecture challenges assumptions ...
Interwoven Dependencies: Public keynote by Dr. Gabrielle Hosein18
Global Heritage Lab, ...
04:30 PM - 06:30 PM
"Nachorious: The Nach Gyal as Post Indenture Caribbean Feminist Jouvay Mas"
This mas commemorates 180 years of the Indian ‘nautch girl’ – dancer, courtesan, ...
Interwoven Dependencies: Roundtable Discussion19
Global Heritage Lab, ...
04:30 PM - 06:30 PM
Christian missionaries pressured women in colonial contact zones to dress more ‘appropriately’ according to European understandings of Christian modesty. At ...
Interwoven Dependencies: Keynote Performance by Tuli Mekondjo20
Global Heritage Lab, ...
04:30 PM - 06:30 PM
Tuli Mekondjo’s performance "Saara Omulaule/Black Saara" (2023) was improvised & inspired by Kari Miettinen’s book "On the Way to Whiteness – Christianization, ...
Joseph C. Miller Memorial Lecture by Jeffrey Easton21
Online via Zoom
04:15 PM - 06:00 PM
How did marginalized groups in rigid societies find paths to economic and social mobility? In the Roman Empire, lower-class individuals navigated established ...
BCDSS Affiliate Ulrike Schmieder's Book Launch22
Bonner Universitätsforum ...
04:00 PM - 07:00 PM
Join us to the launch of "Versklavung im Atlantischen Raum: Orte des Gedenkens, Orte des Verschweigens in Frankreich und Spanien, Martinique und Kuba ...
Labour, Freedom, Slavery - Sociological and Historical Approaches23
Niebuhrstr. 5
04:30 PM - 06:00 PM
Join us on April 29th when Theresa Wobbe, BCDSS alumna, will discuss the recently published book “Sklaverei, Freiheit und Arbeit: Soziohistorische Beiträge zur ...
Contact Us
Bonn Center for Dependency and Slavery Studies (BCDSS)
Subscribe 25to our email list and get all of the latest news!
The Bonn Center for Dependency and Slavery Studies is on Facebook26, Instagram27 and X (Twitter)28! Follow us and stay updated.
Managing Director: Jeannine Bischoff29
Email: dependency@uni-bonn.de
Press and PR Manager: Cécile Jeblawei30
Email: pr@dependency.uni-bonn.de
Address
University of Bonn
Niebuhrstraße 5
53113 Bonn
BCDSS Fellowship Programs
Coordination: Sarah Dusend31
Email: researchandstudy@dependency.uni-bonn.de
Deputy: Laura Hartmann32
Email: l.hartmann@dependency.uni-bonn.de
Address
University of Bonn
Heussallee 18–24
53113 Bonn
Links
- https://www.dependency.uni-bonn.de/en/about-us/third-mission/diversity-equity-inclusion/home
- https://www.dependency.uni-bonn.de/en/research/publications
- https://www.dependency.uni-bonn.de/en/outreach/videos-and-recordings
- https://dependency.blog
- https://dependency.blog/rethinking-unfreedom-in-global-perspective-insights-from-the-innsbruck-conference
- https://dependency.blog/intersectionality-and-historically-informed-dependency-studies
- https://www.dependency.uni-bonn.de/en/outreach/news-bcdss/book-launch
- https://www.dependency.uni-bonn.de/en/outreach/news-bcdss/the-matis-tattoo-celebration-90-film-screening
- https://www.dependency.uni-bonn.de/en/outreach/news-bcdss/call-for-papers-heterarchies-and-power-dynamics-in-post-roman-europe-4th-10th-century-ad
- https://www.dependency.uni-bonn.de/en/outreach/news-bcdss/new-volume-from-the-bcdss-book-series-dependency-and-slavery-studies-dss
- https://www.dependency.uni-bonn.de/en/outreach/news-bcdss/california-a-slave-state-a-reading-discussion-with-jean-pfaelzer
- https://www.dependency.uni-bonn.de/en/outreach/news-bcdss/new-publication-in-the-series-dependency-slavery-studies
- https://www.dependency.uni-bonn.de/en/outreach/news-bcdss/discussion-womens-agency-in-academia
- https://www.dependency.uni-bonn.de/en/outreach/news-bcdss/call-for-papers-slaveries-and-human-remains
- https://www.dependency.uni-bonn.de/en/outreach/news-bcdss/all-news
- https://www.dependency.uni-bonn.de/en/outreach/events/the-matis-tattoo-celebration-90-film-screening
- https://www.dependency.uni-bonn.de/en/events/joseph-c-miller-memorial-lecture-by-jeremiah-coogan
- https://www.dependency.uni-bonn.de/en/outreach/events/keynote-by-dr-gabrielle-hosein
- https://www.dependency.uni-bonn.de/en/outreach/events/interwoven-dependencies-roundtable-discussion
- https://www.dependency.uni-bonn.de/en/outreach/events/interwoven-dependencies-keynote-performance-by-tuli-mekondjo
- https://www.dependency.uni-bonn.de/en/events/joseph-c-miller-memorial-lecture-by-jeffrey-easton
- https://www.dependency.uni-bonn.de/en/events/bcdss-alumni-ulrike-schmieders-book-launch
- https://www.dependency.uni-bonn.de/en/events/conference
- https://www.dependency.uni-bonn.de/en/events
- https://listen.uni-bonn.de/wws/subscribe/dependencystudies
- https://www.facebook.com/DependencyBonn
- https://www.instagram.com/dependencybonn/
- https://twitter.com/DependencyBonn/status/1493549511247024131
- https://www.dependency.uni-bonn.de/en/about-us/people/management/managing-director
- https://www.dependency.uni-bonn.de/en/about-us/people/management/press-and-pr-manager
- https://www.dependency.uni-bonn.de/en/about-us/people/management/head-of-research-and-study
- https://www.dependency.uni-bonn.de/en/about-us/people/management/phd-coordinator