About the project
The project investigates the foundation of statehood, science popularization, and (trans)national cooperation with specific regard to the Polar Regions and “inner Africa”.
In the nineteenth century, geographical societies formed the institutional base for the rising field of geographical research. Their foundation, mainly in European capitals, coincided with the growth of a civil society and the rise of imperial claims to power.
By simultaneously practicing and popularizing science, the geographical societies developed a lasting impact on the exploration and public perception of formerly inaccessible environments such as the Arctic, Antarctica, and “inner Africa”.
Project aims
We compare the geographical societies of four capitals: Brussels, Edinburgh, Oslo, and Vienna. Societies in these cities considered the Polar Regions and/or “inner Africa” as major poles of geographical inquiry.
Particular attention will be paid to:
- historical geographies in which research on the Polar Regions and Africa was practiced, networks of exchange established, and scholarship popularized
- the relationship between state governance and geographical societies in the context of national and imperial statehood
- interaction processes between science, geographical exploration, and the public sphere with regard to practitioners, field sites, and exchange formats involved
Duration
01.11.22 - 30.04.25
Financing
MSCA Individual Fellowship
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