About us
Ambivalent Enmity starts from the hypothesis that enmity must be understood as a processual, relational, and deeply ambivalent category. Existing research in fields such as peace and conflict studies, international law, sociology, and anthropology frequently conceptualizes enmity as a conflict between self-contained actors.
The purpose of our studies is to complement this understanding by combining expertise in regional studies with approaches from the social sciences as well as history, linguistics, literary studies, philosophy, psychology, and the history of art.
Ambivalent Enmity’s methodological approach extends the scope of enmity studies in three respects:
- by integrating concepts and methodologies from the humanities and social sciences;
- by focusing on transcultural linkages shaping enmity within and between Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
- by encouraging case studies in a time frame ranging from the Middle Ages to today.
