Der von Erk Volkmar Heyen gestiftete „Förderpreis europäische Verwaltungsgeschichte“ wendet sich an Nachwuchswissenschaftler. Er verbindet die Würdigung bereits erbrachter Forschungsleistungen mit der Anregung eines neuen Forschungsprojekts. Preisträgerin des Jahres 2024 ist Marion Dotter. Gewürdigt wurde ihre Dissertation über die Nobilitierungspraxis in der k. u. k.-Monarchie („Adelspolitik in der späten Habsburgermonarchie. Kulturen des Entscheidens in der Nobilitierungspraxis während der Regierungszeit Kaiser Franz Joseph I. (1848–1916)“). Mit dem Preis gefördert wird ein Projekt zur Bittschriftenpraxis der katholischen Kirche („Private Verwaltungssysteme zwischen Nation, Emotion und Caritas. Bittschriften an kirchliche Einrichtungen im 19. Jahrhundert“). mehr

Challenging traditional historiographical paradigms and proposing new research directions, Benedetta Albani's research project examines the role of the Congregations of Cardinals within the Roman Curia. The project explores the hypothesis of a persistent Roman model of governance that emerged in the late Middle Ages and has evolved, with significant interruptions and variations, until the present day. To date, scholars have mainly focused on individual congregations, neglecting their interrelationships. The primary aim of the project is to provide the first comprehensive and integrated approach to the study of the Roman Curia and its various bodies. mehr

Once again, we were delighted to welcome a group of young scholars from all over the world to Frankfurt for the Max Planck Summer Academy for Legal History. It has been a privilege to have had the opportunity to engage with such great people, whose dedication and insights have enriched our understanding of the complex interplay between the form and substance of law. This year's overarching research theme was 'The Mediality and Materiality of Law'. ‘Mediality’ and ‘materiality’ are important keywords in historical and cultural studies debates. Legal scholarship has also been devoting a great deal of thought to the material and medial conditions of the production and enforcement of law. Legal history has been pursuing this avenue of research for quite some time, with noteworthy examples including legal archaeology and the long-standing discussions on orality and writing, for example in medieval legal history. mehr

As legal frameworks struggle to keep pace with rapid technological advances and evolving societal norms, the urgency of linking academic research to real-world societal issues has never been greater. The field of law significantly benefits from the critical insights provided by researchers. We caught up with Anselm Küsters, who has just been awarded the Ludwig Erhard Prize for Economics Writing (Ludwig-Erhard-Förderpreis für Wirtschaftspublizistik). We talked to him about the need for experts to amplify their voices, the feedback his articles have generated, and his knack for finding topics that interest both academic and social audiences. mehr

Matilde Cazzola's research project examines the role of the 'protection' framework in the British colonial state, focusing on how it facilitated the governance and profitability of the mobility of indentured labourers and indigenous peoples. It highlights that this mobility was regulated and secured by law to remove disorderly or criminal elements, closely linking protection with policing and crime prevention from the early nineteenth century. She also explores the use of protection as a justification for the collection of social knowledge about these groups, which informed social policies and legal measures. mehr

Our upcoming Max Planck Lecture in Legal History and Legal Theory (on 4 July) will focus on 'The Property/License Interface'. This lecture by Larissa Katz (University of Toronto) is based on a chapter from her forthcoming book on People (Offices) and Things. She insists on the traditional property/licence distinction and explains how these two ideas relate. She argues that the property/licence distinction captures two basic and quite different ways in which someone in an office (whether public or private) can involve others in carrying out their mandate. mehr

Josef Esser prägte als Rechtstheoretiker, Rechtsdogmatiker und Rechtsvergleicher die juristischen Debatten der Nachkriegszeit nachhaltig. Seine Konzepte des Richterrechts und der Rechtsfindung sowie sein Schuldrechtslehrbuch fanden internationale Anerkennung und beeinflussten viele Juristengenerationen. Allerdings ist sein Wirken während des Nationalsozialismus bisher kaum erforscht. Das Forschungsprojekt von Susanne Paas beleuchtet Essers Karriere zwischen 1933 und 1949 und bietet damit exemplarische Einsichten in die Karrierewege von Rechtswissenschaftlern in dieser Zeit. mehr

How has the 'bundle of rights' theory, a cornerstone of property law in the United States, weathered the storm of criticism in the late 20th century? Wenjia Zhao's research project embarks on a journey through the evolution of property rights, from the traditional 'bundle view' to the challenges posed by 'new essentialists.' Her research scrutinizes the clash between enduring legal paradigms and emerging critiques, aiming to uncover whether the bundle view stands on the brink of a conceptual crisis. mehr

Die Wissenschaft vom Recht wird im deutschsprachigen Raum hauptsächlich als eine Praxis verstanden, die Normen setzt und Recht für die Praxis entwickelt. Seit Anfang des 20. Jahrhunderts gibt es jedoch auch eine Sichtweise, die Recht empirisch untersucht, also wie es in der Gesellschaft tatsächlich angewendet wird. Christian Boulanger erforscht die Geschichte der Rechtssoziologie in Deutschland und stellt sie in einen größeren wissenschaftlichen Kontext. mehr

In her research project, Reeju Ray delves into the complex landscape of legal history in India, a field enriched by the contributions of historians, practitioners, jurists and activists. The project aims to map the key contributors to legal history and assess the scope of the discipline, its challenges and opportunities for collaboration. It seeks to provide a comprehensive overview of the existing culture of legal history in India, identifying its various elements and participants. mehr

Typische Quellenarten der Rechtsgeschichte wie etwa Gerichtsakten oder Gesetzestexte liegen häufig in einem so großen Umfang und in einer so geringen durchschnittlichen Originalität vor, dass sich digitale Auswertungsverfahren geradezu aufdrängen. Von Prozessakten bis zu Wörterbüchern und von Corpora bis zu Digitalen Editionen gibt Andreas Wagner in einem Beitrag für die Clio Guides einen systematischen wie historisch angeleiteten Überblick über die globale Landschaft der verschiedenartigen rechtshistorisch interessanten digitalen Ressourcen. mehr

In diesem Jahr ist das mpilhlt Teil der schwimmenden Wissenschaftsausstellung MS Wissenschaft. Das Schiff ist seit mehr als 20 Jahren in jedem Sommer auf deutschen Flüssen unterwegs und widmet sich der Wissensvermittlung mit praxisnahen Ausstellungen, bei denen die Besucherinnen und Besucher Dinge ausprobieren und an Aktivitäten teilnehmen können. Anlässlich des 75-jährigen Jubiläums des Grundgesetzes steht die Ausstellung in diesem Jahr unter dem Motto Freiheit. Ein Beitrag von Marietta Auer liefert eine theoretische Grundlage für die Ausstellung. mehr

We are witnessing how AI can generate incredibly accurate, natural sounding, and grammatically correct text. It also can create convincing images that mimick the texture, damage, and the colours of old photographic paper. But how long until it starts creating entirely realistic historical documents, complete with authentic-looking text? What will the implications be for research? It is time to prepare for this new era writes Rômulo da Silva Ehalt on our blog legalhistoryinsights.com mehr

How did colonial powers shape labor laws in Australia and India from 1850 to 1950? Prakhar Ganguly's research project explores the intertwining legal landscapes of factories and unions in these distant colonies. He investigates the unique paths of legal transplantation, the clash of cultures, and the lasting impacts of colonial rule on labor regulation. From the gold rush to the gavels of justice, he seeks to uncover the shared histories and divergent destinies of two nations under the British Empire. mehr

mpilhlt and the American Society for Legal History (ASLH) are pleased to announce a new dissertation prize. It will honour outstanding dissertations on topics in European legal history in global perspective, presented for PhD or JSD degrees awarded in the previous calendar year.  Topics may include European legal interactions with people or places outside Europe, legal processes spanning Europe and other regions of the world, and developments in legal theory closely linked to imperial, transnational or trans-regional trends. The deadline for submissions is 1 June 2024. mehr