In support of a democratic culture

Outstanding theses and student research projects on the topic of right-wing radicalism can in future be honoured and funded with prize money of up to 1,000 euros at Friedrich Schiller University Jena. This has been made possible through a 25,000-euro donation by the three scientists Prof. Klaus Dörre, Prof. Stephan Lessenich and Prof. Hartmut Rosa to the Association of Friends and Patrons of Friedrich Schiller University Jena.

The trio of social scientists are passing on their prize money from the 2021 Thuringian Research Prize in the fundamental research category. “With this donation, we would like to support young researchers and, at the same time, serve the democratic culture of Thuringia and beyond,” says Prof. Klaus Dörre on behalf of the group of researchers. “Research into right-wing extremism and radicalisation is more important today than ever before, because democracy in Thuringia, but also Europe-wide, is being increasingly threatened by right-wing radicalism and racism.”

The “Prize for Research on Right-Wing Radicalism” will be open to applicants twice a year on 1 April and 1 October. Applications will start in autumn 2021. Funding is available for individual student theses as well as collective research projects carried out during a study programme. In both categories, the projects should deal with the causes, manifestations and effects of intellectual and practical right-wing radicalism. They are particularly worthy of funding if, on this basis, they address possible political and social strategies for combating right-wing practices.

Students from all departments at the University of Jena are eligible to apply for funding for research projects. They must present their project in a short (maximum two-page) outline. This can be of a theoretical or empirical nature; ideas in the area of participatory research are particularly welcome. The outline should explain the basic concept and the planned approach, and indicate the estimated resource requirements (up to the maximum amount of the prize money).

A jury appointed by the Board of the Association of Friends and Patrons of the University of Jena, which includes academics from various disciplines, will make the decision on the theses submitted.

In donating the prize money, Klaus Dörre, Stephan Lessenich and Hartmut Rosa also want to encourage others to donate and further develop a donation culture at Friedrich Schiller University Jena and in Thuringia.

Anyone who would like to contribute to the Prize for Research into Right-Wing Radicalism or other projects such as the Sustainability Fund or the Deutschlandstipendium (Germany Scholarship Programme) should send their donation, stating its purpose, to the Association of Friends and Patrons, Commerzbank Jena, IBAN: DE78 8204 0000 0253 9609 00, BIC:  COBADEFFXXX.

The three prize winners (from left) Prof. Dr Hartmut Rosa (University of Jena and University of Erfurt), Prof. Dr Klaus Dörre (University of Jena) and Prof. Dr Stefan Lessenich (LMU Munich) donate their prize money of 25,000 euros to the Society of Friends and Sponsors of the University of Jena.

Image: Anne Günther (University of Jena)