230038 FPR FPR Research Practice 2: Marienthal 2.0 (2017W)

In 1930, the textile factory in Marienthal is closing; the research group around Marie Jahoda, Hans Zeisel and Paul F. Lazarsfeld examines and publishes how this shutdown impacts the town in their classic study "Die Arbeitslosen von Marienthal. Ein soziographischer Versuch über die Wirkungen langdauernder Arbeitslosigkeit“ ("Marienthal. The Sociography of an Unemployed Community"). In 2017, 87 years later, the chemical plant in the location of the former textile factory threatens to be closed. Within the research practice "Marienthal 2.0" we will pursue the question which economic, social and poltical consequences this closing can have for the town.

Starting from re-reading the original text, we address the question which research approaches and issues - regarding e.g. voting behaviour, political mobilisation or social cohesion - can be transferred onto today's context. Based on these reflections we develop a research design which will be conceptualised and realised in the course of two semesters.