Oberseminar SoSe 2026

Oberseminar: Research Problems in Turkology and Iranian Studies
Summer Semester 2026 | Lecture Series (20 April – 13 July 2026)

We are pleased to announce our quarterly Oberseminar, organized by the Chair of Turkology and Iranian Studies. It brings together scholars from diverse disciplinary and geographical backgrounds to explore current research problems in Turkology and Iranian Studies.

Our lecture series reflects the breadth and dynamism of the field, spanning topics from the early medieval Turkic world to the late Ottoman Empire and modern Middle Eastern history. The seminar provides a platform for established scholars and emerging researchers to present ongoing work, engage in critical discussion, and reflect on methodological and conceptual challenges.

The program addresses a wide range of themes, including cultural and intellectual history, historiography, memory studies, media and public sphere formation, diplomatic practices, military and medical history, as well as literary and artistic production. Particular attention is given to trans-regional interactions, such as Ottoman–Habsburg diplomacy, Greek–Islamic cultural entanglements, and the interconnected histories of Iran and the Turkish world.

Contributions also explore questions of emotion, identity, and discourse through diverse source materials, including ego-documents, vernacular media, and political writings. The seminar further highlights shifting historiographical perspectives, from imperial and early modern contexts to the transformations of the 19th and 20th centuries, including the First World War, constitutional movements, and Cold War dynamics.

By fostering dialogue across disciplines and career stages, the Oberseminar aims to contribute to ongoing debates in Turkology and Iranian Studies while encouraging new perspectives on the historical, cultural, and intellectual developments of these interconnected regions.

Selected themes and discussions from the seminar will contribute to the broader research profile of the institute and may serve as a basis for future collaborative projects.