The Doctoral School also welcomes applications in research topics other than the proposed ones below. Those who would like to join a research listed below shall contact the teachers who proposed the research topic and prepare the research plan required for the application together with them. Such applicants shall attach the recommendation of the potential supervisor(s) to their application.

CSEPELI GYÖRGYꟷÖRKÉNY ANTAL: EUROPEAN AND RUSSIAN NATIONAL IDENTITY, CULTURAL DIVERSITY AND POLITICAL CHANGE

The main aim of the proposal is to identify commonality and diversity in perception of Europe from the side of the EU and the nearest neighbor countries – Russia and Moldova, to propose the expert recommendations for development of the EU Partnerships Strategies with neighboring counties.  Project will contribute to mutual understanding between nations, development of intercultural communications, identification of similarities and differences of views from European and Russian, Moldavian sides and search for overcoming of contradictions on the issue of perception of what Europe is, its geographical and cultural borders, what people in project partner countries put into the words “being a European”.  The main objectives are to identify the borders of Europe by perception of European, Moldavian and Russian sides, to observe the phenomena of European identity in EU and non EU-countries (Russia, Moldova), to investigate the issue of cultural security in multiethnic European region, spreading the output of the research on the both European and international level. These tasks can be fulfilled with support of strong, competitive and well organized research entity.

CSEPELI GYÖRGYꟷÖRKÉNY ANTAL: INCLUSIVE AND INNOVATIVE PRACTICES FOR THE INTEGRATION OF RECENTLY ARRIVED MIGRANTS IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES

The project comparatively assesses the effectiveness of integration policies and practices in major migrant-receiving spaces, in local communities, ranging from urban spaces to rural areas. This should include migrants’ access to civic and social rights, social services and facilities (e.g. language tuition and healthcare) in accordance with their legal status, as well as intercultural interaction (including gender aspects) and adaptation to increased diversity of the population. The project is focussing on social cohesion and societal fragmentation, and how these aspects are accounted for in migrant integration policies.  

The urban and rural governance of integration processes shall be analysed against the backdrop of a broader multi-level governance framework, whereby potential and real tensions between the local and other levels of governments will be explored. Attitudes to migration and integration by both migrants and the host communities will be studied as well. The role of religious communities could also be examined in relation to outcomes of integration processes.  

ÖRKÉNY ANTAL: CONSTRUCTING BORDER ETHNIC IDENTITIES AND MIGRATION EXPERIENCES ALONG THE BORDER OF EU 

The proposed research project “Interplay of European, National and Regional Identities: nations between states along the new eastern borders of the European Union” is aimed at a deeper understanding of the ways in which the modern European identities and regional cultures are formed and inter-communicated in the Eastern part of the European continent.

In this project we aim to galvanise these three perspectives on the dynamic relationships between identities and state restructuring. More specifically the project explore the ways in which European, national and regional identities are constituted and negotiated through individual and group narratives and practices within an increasingly complex set of institutional arrangements. The project explores the interrelation between individual identities (increasingly complex), group identities (where there is a growing significance of cosmopolitan and European identities parallel to national and regional identities), and institutional frameworks (still dominated by the state, but with the increasing significance of non state actors). The broader post-socialist space offers different contexts within which we can explore the changing relationships between identities, nations and states. These are for example: post-communist Eastern European countries; post-soviet countries with a historical claim on nation and state; post-soviet nation-states that emerged within the boundaries of the Soviet republics; post-imperial state and nation in the case of Russia.

KISS MÁTÉ: Examining the Dynamics of European Extreme Right-Wing Political Movements

Extreme right-wing political movements have gained prominence across Europe in recent years, posing complex challenges to democratic societies. Understanding the underlying factors, ideologies, and strategies of these movements is crucial for policymakers, scholars, and civil society actors alike. This research topic seeks to delve into the multifaceted nature of extreme right-wing movements in Europe to inform evidence-based policies and promote democratic resilience.

This research should adopt a multidisciplinary approach, drawing from political science, sociology, history, media studies, and other relevant fields. Methodologies should include qualitative research methods such as case studies, content analysis of extremist materials, interviews with movement actors and experts, as well as quantitative analyses of public opinion data and electoral outcomes.

This research topic is of significant importance in the current European political landscape. It offers an opportunity to deepen our understanding of extreme right-wing political movements, their drivers, and their impact on democratic societies. Moreover, by investigating the strategies and vulnerabilities of these movements, this research can inform counter-radicalization efforts, policy responses, and strategies for safeguarding democratic values and institutions.

MIROSLAV MAVRA: UNRAVELING THE COMPLEXITIES OF EUROPEAN ROMA COMMUNITIES: AN INTERDISCIPLINARY EXPLORATION 

European Roma communities have historically faced systemic discrimination, social exclusion, and limited access to opportunities. Yet, they represent a diverse and culturally rich segment of European society. Understanding the multifaceted aspects of Roma communities is not only crucial for academic scholarship but also essential for informing inclusive policies and fostering social cohesion in Europe. Therefore, I propose this research topic to advance knowledge in this field and contribute to positive societal change.

Research Objectives:

1. To comprehensively document the historical, cultural, and social diversity of European Roma communities across different regions.
2. To critically analyze the impact of policies, both past and present, on the socio-economic and educational status of Roma communities.
3. To explore innovative strategies and community-based initiatives that have shown promise in enhancing the well-being and social inclusion of Roma populations.
4. To investigate the intersections of identity, representation, and empowerment within Roma communities.
5. To assess the role of international organizations, NGOs, and civil society in advocating for Roma rights and fostering positive change.

Methodology: This research should employ an interdisciplinary approach, drawing from fields such as anthropology, sociology, political science, history, cultural studies, and social work. A combination of qualitative and quantitative methods, including ethnographic research, surveys, interviews, archival analysis, and policy reviews, should be utilized to provide a holistic understanding of European Roma communities.

Significance: This research topic holds great significance for both academic scholarship and societal progress. It offers an opportunity to shed light on the unique challenges, strengths, and aspirations of European Roma communities, contributing to a deeper understanding of their place in European society. By uncovering effective strategies and policies, this research can inform policymakers and activists working towards the social inclusion and empowerment of Roma communities, ultimately fostering a more equitable and cohesive Europe.

Prospective doctoral candidates interested in this research topic are encouraged to develop specific research proposals that align with these objectives while bringing their unique perspectives and experiences to the study of European Roma communities.

RICHÁRD PAPP : SOCIAL AND CULTURAL MEMORY 

The research involves the analysis of the meanings of sociocultural memory and forgetting. The PhD student will be required to interpret the social process of memory through independent empirical research.

Research can relate to the following phenomena and problems:

• Mythical and cultural memory
• Politics and memory/memory policy strategies
• Historical and literary chapters in school textbooks from the perspective of memory and forgetting/absence
• Analysis of commemorative rituals/ceremonies
• Social and cultural memory of a particular group being researched
• Memory signs and narratives of a locality, neighbourhood or public social space
• Anthropological analysis of individual life stories and/or family histories (individual memory and its wider historical-social context)
• Holocaust memory

The research requires the PhD student to use an interdisciplinary "hybrid" methodology, involving fieldwork, analysis of spaces, data and narrative collection through participant observation, interviews, in-depth interviews, focus group interviews, archives, written histories, photographs, visual documentation.

The PhD student may participate or be associated with the supervisor's research project on Holocaust memory.

RICHÁRD PAPP : ANTHROPOLOGY OF RELIGION

The PhD student's research topic is the understanding and interpretation of religious meanings in their holistic context. 

The research should therefore incorporate the methodology of anthropology of religion as well as classical and current theories of anthropology of religion.

Thus, the research should be an interpretation based on a cultural anthropological fieldwork. The field of research can be the study of any religious institution/community, but it can also examine any spiritual phenomenon, group or activity outside the religious institution.

Moreover, the focus of the research may also be on social phenomena that cannot be directly identified as religious or spiritual (national myths and rituals, media rituals, modern myths and popular culture, sports, etc.) which the Phd student will also research and interpret using the approaches and methodologies of anthropology of religion.

Research can relate to the following phenomena and problems:

• Cultural anthropological research in a religious group or institution
• Research on communities identifying themselves as a spiritual group
• Study of new religious movements
• Network of persons identifying themselves as religious or spiritual and their activities
• Analysis of rituals
• National myths and rituals
• Media rituals
• Modern myths and popular culture

In any related research, the analysis of religious practices, ideas, myths and rituals will be equally important in the PhD dissertation.

RICHÁRD PAPP : CONTEMPORARY JEWISH CULTURES 

The PhD research is related to the following questions and dilemmas:
How could Jewish culture be approached: as a religion, ethnicity, nation or other social science "category"? For example, how can one "define" those persons attributed to "Jews" who are attributed/considered "Jews" by their society and are therefore persecuted, destroyed or viewed with prejudice to this day? In the same way, how can those diverse and complex groups, movements, communities, persons who claim to be Jews, but at the same time live and think in a completely different way, be interpreted as "Jews"?
The PhD student researches the above questions with empirical research.

Research can relate to the following phenomena and problems:

• An interpretation based on fieldwork in a Jewish community
• Research of a Jewish institution (kindergarten, school, public space, Zionist group, club, theater company, museum, etc.)
• Visible or invisible traces of the past presence of local Jews and the memory of the Holocaust in a selected settlement
• Analysis of the parts of the school materials about Jews and the Holocaust
• Research based on narrative interviews with people who identify as Jewish
• Research on Judaism and Holocaust memory based on focus group interviews with Jewish and non-Jewish persons in a locality or micro-region
• Analysis of socio-political manifestations of anti-Semitism
• Analysis of films, series or social media content related to Jewish culture, the Holocaust and/or anti-Semitism
• Practice and meanings of Jewish humor

PhD students can connect to the supervisor's research related to contemporary Hungarian Jewish culture.

SZABÓ MIKLÓS: VIOLENCE, GENOCIDE AND LIVED MEMORY OF WAR

Despite, or because of, the methodological, conceptual and ethical problems, genocide excites the imagination. Primarily with numbers. In the twentieth century alone, sixty-five thousand Herero, one million Armenians, six million Ukrainians, six million Jews, three million Bangladeshis, one million Indonesians, one hundred thousand Hutus, two million Cambodians, two hundred thousand Guatemalans, eight hundred thousand Tutsis and their sympathising Hutus, and innumerable and unrecorded groups of indigenous peoples.  

Living in a modern age, we are aware of the reality of genocide, yet we are shocked by the images and numbers that assail us. We are haunted by the images of eyes staring at us from beyond the fences, of bodies vomited into pits, and we try to put them away every minute.  

The possibility of conflict is ever present in every society, as is the possibility of peaceful coexistence.Which one is realised at a given moment is a choice of those who hold the economic and political power in society.However, this choice need not necessarily be assumed to be conscious in its full depth. These individuals are just as bound up in their perception of reality in their own environment as anyone else, and their choices, which may be perceived as rational, represent an unconscious choice between peace and conflict.Systemic reordering is problematic for all societies, disrupting structures and institutions, upsetting the legal order and increasing the potential for conflict. Political leaders, who were responsible for the occurrence of the Yugoslav wars, but perhaps above all for the way in which they were fought, abused the potential for conflict that they recognised in society.  

We are automatically and universally exposed to it through dozens of questions. How did this happen? What makes someone do such a thing? What would it feel like if it happened to us? How can victims cope with what happened? Why does it happen again and again?

The aim of the research: 
Making sense of everyday, culturally sanctioned acts of violence, war violence, genocide, and lived and constructed memory is not a simple process and has many pitfalls, yet it offers an exploration of deep layers of society that can not only aid understanding, but (perhaps) help in the early recognition of processes. 

We welcome applications from students from any field of social science with the determination to make a difference. Unresolved events abound.

Asgeir Falch-Eriksen: Sustainable Solidarity amidst Eurozone's Crisis: In-depth Inquiries

The Eurozone’s “crisis in solidarity” challenges the stability and normative foundations of liberal constitutional democracy both within and across the constituent nation-states. Rooted in myriad factors, this crisis not only disrupts the fabric of social order and the social mechanisms securing social integration and inclusion but also emboldens divisive narratives, leveraging modern and traditional media to hijack crucial policy debates on climate change, migration, and reproductive health, among others. In such efforts, participants within the public sphere have antagonists of liberal constitutional democracy engaged in constitutional- and democratic backsliding, weakening of the status of human rights and so on. Arguably, these efforts are set to disintegrate solidarity and the quality of social order of the liberal constitutional democracy, casting a long shadow on the trust essential for peaceful societal order and collective interaction. This interdisciplinary doctoral research can delve into the mechanisms and processes propelling the disintegration of solidarity through the public sphere and how certain actors´ engagements in the public space of liberal democracy can itself become a threat to democracy. 

Applicants are encouraged to provide their own empirical focus point and systematically explore the underlying causes, the narratives fueling disintegration from the vantage point of the public sphere, and the broader societal and political implications thereof. The project will need to meld a rigorous analysis of existing theoretical knowledge with an in-depth exploration of empirical data and in combination illuminate the anomalies threatening the essence of a sustainable solidarity. The research will seek to be at the forefront contributing to catalyzing a deeper understanding essential for fostering resilient solidarity within the Eurozone.

Number of students: 2

Required language skills: English

Major literature on the topic: 

• Brunkhorst, H. (2005). Solidarity: from civic friendship to a global legal community. MIT Press. 
• Fraser, N. (1992). Rethinking the Public Sphere: A Contribution to the Critique of Actually Existing Democracy. In C. Calhoun (Ed.), Habermas and the public sphere (pp. x, 498 s.). MIT Press. 
• Habermas, J. (1996). Between Facts and Norms.Contributions to a Discourse Theory of Law and Democracy (W. Rehg, Trans.). The MIT Press. http://website-pace.net/documents/19855/4491159/20180427-socdoc11rev-interet-superieur-enfant-EN.pdf 
• Habermas, J. (1998). Inclusion of the other: Studies in political theory. The MIT Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts. 
• Habermas, J. (2009). Europe: The faltering project. Polity. 
• Rehg, W. (1994). Insight and solidarity: The discourse ethics of Jürgen Habermas. Univ of California Press. 

Asgeir Falch-Eriksen: Trust Cultivation amidst Weak Solidarity

In the current state of the Eurozone, marked by a crisis of solidarity, it is imperative to foster trust in order to uphold the integrity and functionality of liberal constitutional democracy. The decline of solidarity, coupled with the ascendance of anti-liberal norms, right-wing extremism, and exclusionary social practices, poses a formidable challenge to the fundamental trust that underpins social order and interactions in society. To tackle this pressing issue, a doctoral research project should comprehensively explore empirical cases to uncover the intricate dynamics between eroding solidarity and trust. Such a project should strive to comprehend the mechanisms that foster trust within a liberal constitutional democratic framework. 

PhD-researchers should delve into the processes that distort solidarity and assess their impact on the fabric of societal trust. Moreover, they can devise innovative strategies to cultivate trust amid the prevailing divisive narratives of solidarity. The project should weave together theoretical literature with an exploratory empirical design of a selected case study in order to highlight and address the challenges to cultivating trust. Overall, this research project will contribute to the scholarly discourse on the interplay between solidarity and trust, and provide valuable insights into the mechanisms that underpin peaceful social interactions in liberal constitutional democracies. 

Number of students: 2

Required language skills: English

Major literature on the topic: 

• Baier, A. C. (1986). Trust and Antitrust. Ethics, 96(2), 231-260. 
• Fraser, N. (1998). Social justice in the age of identity politics: Redistribution, recognition, participation. 
• Fraser, N. (1992). Rethinking the Public Sphere: A Contribution to the Critique of Actually Existing Democracy. In C. Calhoun (Ed.), Habermas and the public sphere (pp. x, 498 s.). MIT Press. 
• Habermas, J. (2009). Europe: The faltering project. Polity. 
• Luhmann, N. (2017). Trust and power (English edition. ed.). Polity Press. 
• Rehg, W. (1994). Insight and solidarity: The discourse ethics of Jürgen Habermas. Univ of California Press. 

Asgeir Falch-Eriksen: Social Exclusion, Sustainable Welfare and Solidarity: An Interdisciplinary Investigation

The Eurozone faces a pressing issue that threatens the very foundation of liberal constitutional democracy and sustainable welfare in the region. The crisis caused by the fragmentation of solidarity, social exclusion, and the prevalence of anti-liberal narratives seriously threaten universal welfare programs and human rights. To tackle this issue, projects can be developed seeking to conduct thorough investigations into the complex relationship between social exclusion, sustainable welfare, and contested approaches to solidarity. This interdisciplinary project aims to delve deeply into the mechanisms that drive social exclusion, exclusion´s impact on welfare sustainability, and the various approaches to welfare state schemes. Solutions can bridge the gaps in solidarity by uncovering the connection between social exclusion and sustainable welfare. The challenges faced by the welfare state are numerous and complex, and project can freely choose empirical focus areas, but which needs to present a significant hurdle to achieving sustainable welfare and preserving solidarity. PhD proposals are encouraged that address the impact of different aspects of globalization.  

Number of students: 2

Required language skills: English

Major literature on the topic: 

• Banting, K., & Kymlicka, W. (2017). The strains of commitment: The political sources of solidarity in diverse societies. Oxford University Press. 
• Habermas, J. (2009). Europe: The faltering project. Polity. 
• Habermas, J. r. (1996). Between facts and norms: Contributions to a discourse theory of law and democracy. Polity Press. 
• Rehg, W. (1994). Insight and solidarity: The discourse ethics of Jürgen Habermas. Univ of California Press. 
• Takle, M., Vedeler, J. S., Schoyen, M. A., Bøhler, K. K., & Falch-Eriksen, A. (2023). Citizenship and Social Exclusion at the Margins of the Welfare State. Taylor & Francis.