PREVIOUS PHASE OF DE:LINK// RE:LINK (2021–2024)

TL1: Cultural politics of infrastructure in Asia and Africa: Negotiating transregionally shared and local heritage

Taking existing and new power relations into account, TL1 investigated connectivities and disconnectivities in relation to material and immaterial cultures and cultural heritage in the context of the BRI. The individual projects described and analysed how cultural policy was shaped and negotiated in different Asian and African regions. The research questions included: Against the background of BRI-related projects, what interactions can be identified between different local, regional and national cultural policies? How do they manifest themselves? Which new and old cultural (infra)structures and geo-cultural regions emerge or change as a result?

Members:
Dr. Jamila Adeli (HU), Prof. Jeanine Dagyeli (University of Vienna), Prof. Eva Ehninger (HU), Prof. Susanne Gehrmann (HU), Daniel Koßmann (HU), Prof. Aldin Mutembei (University of Dar es Salaam), Prof. Nadja-Christina Schneider (HU), Fiona Smith (HU), Prof. Manja Stephan-Emmrich (HU) and Tanya Talwar (HU)

TL2: Language ecologies in transition: Interactions between linguistic, cultural and social dynamics

Thematic line 2 focused on multilingualism and language hierarchies as approaches to access local perspectives and knowledge on the BRI. Considering that the linguistic articulation of local perspectives is an identity-forming and dynamic part of culture, a regional studies account was particularly insightful in order to understand transregional transformation. By means of (socio)linguistic analyses of language dynamics, local, regional, and national perspectives on processes of change were observed and articulated, in turn generating new approaches and knowledge to existing and newly forming cultures.

Members:
Dr. Linda Ammann (HU), Prof. Adams Bodomo (University of Vienna), PD Dr. Katrin Bromber (ZMO), Prof. Jeanine Dagyeli (University of Vienna), Dr. Andrey Filchenko (Nazarbayev University), Prof. Henning Klöter (HU) and Prof. Aldin Mutembei (University of Dar es Salaam)

TL3: Fault lines in the social contract: (Trans-)local re- and de-solidarisation


Social structures become entrenched in formalized, but often also unspoken “contracts” (social contracts) between state and society, and they have considerable staying power. The individual research projects in TL3 addressed the local effects of massive transregional infrastructure projects. The question of how the BRI intervenes in local social structures was posed. Since the “new” social complexity in the transregional space of the BRI does not yet allow for generalized statements about how large infrastructure projects affect social contracts, such relationships were analysed through the lens of local perspectives. The focus was thus on the transformations and continuities that large-scale projects like the BRI trigger at the local level.

Members:
Nadia Ali (BICC), Prof. Sarah Eaton (HU), Dr. John Njenga Karugia (HU), Prof. Kai Kresse (ZMO), Valentin Krüsmann (ZOiS), Dr. Julia Langbein (ZOiS), Dr. Katja Mielke (BICC), Dr. Beril Ocakli (ZOiS), Prof. Dr. Conrad Schetter (BICC), Kadara Swaleh (ZMO)

All three TLs addressed different analytical levels in terms of socio-economic, political-institutional, and cultural/cultural-political (ideas, language, cultural codes, etc.) entanglements and disconnections. The combination of complementary disciplinary approaches underlined the innovative character of the endeavour.