The Sigmund Neumann Institute
The Sigmund Neumann Institute for the research on Freedom and Democracy promotes the scientific study of freedom traditions in Europe and in the U.S.A. and ascertains its promotion through the research of freedom inhibiting factors of the past history and of the present.
Bearing this context in mind, the Institute examines the effect of those factors on personal and social areas. In addition to the legal, historical, social, political and cultural studies performed in this field, the Institute also promotes research in the specific fields of religious, ethnic and linguistic minorities. The observation and assessment of concrete situations of religious freedom in the world – including the analysis of the coping services and their critics, taking into account the compliance to the legal practices – are among the areas of research supported by this Institute.
News
December 2020
- Publication of the journal "Limitations of religious freedom by privileged state religions (ecclesiae) – particularly in authoritarian states but also in democracies" (Reihe: Religion - Staat - Gesellschaft. Zeitschrift für Glaubensformen und Weltanschauungen / Journal for the Study of Beliefs and Worldviews, 20. Jahrgang (2019), Heft 1 und 2, LIT-Verlag). For further information, please click here.
October 2020
- Gerhard Besier gives a lecture at the Syddansk Universitet „On False Memories, Stereotypes and Prejudices“.
- Katarzyna Stokłosa holds the lecture "Understanding the Northern Irish Borderlands" at the Annual Meeting of the Danish European Community Studies Association.
August 2020
- During the summer school “Contested Borders 1920 – 2020/Grenzen als Konfliktraum 1920 – 2020“ at Jaruplund Højskole Katarzyna Stokłosas gives the talk "Grenzfragen in Europa nach 1990".
March 2020
- CANCELED: Unfortunately the presentation of the third volume of the series "Jehovas Zeugen in Europa - Geschichte und Gegenwart" on March 16th in Bern does not take place.
December 2019
- The latest publication edited by Katarzyna Stokłosa, 1917 and the Consequences has been published by Routledge.
November 2019
- Gerhard Besier and Katarzyna Stokłosa give talks about "Die deutsch-deutsche Grenze als Systemgrenze" and "Leben am Eisernen Vorhang: Beispiele aus Osteuropa" at the symposium "Europa der Grenzen - Neue Perspektiven im Kalten Krieg".
- The Sigmund-Neumann-Institut hosts the conference "Limitations of religious freedom by privileged state religions (ecclesiae) – particularly in authoritarian states but also in democracies".
- Gerhard Besier and Katarzyna Stokłosa attend the session "Conflicts and needs for reconciliation" during the "Castle Talks on Cross-Border Cooperation".
- Gerhard Besier presents on November 7th at the University of Fribourg the third volume of the series "Jehovas Zeugen in Europa - Geschichte und Gegenwart".
October 2019
- Gerhard Besier and Katarzyna Stokłosa present on October 28 in the Kultur- und Sportzentrum Basel-Münchenstein the third volume of the series "Jehovas Zeugen in Europa - Geschichte und Gegenwart".
September 2019
- At the yearly international conference of the research network of Kirchliche Zeitgeschichte Gerhard Besier gave the talk "Holding the line: How Christian churches keep contacts and remain meaningful in totalitarian states. An anthropological perspective."
- Katarzyna Stokłosa attends the panel discussion "De/Re-Constructing European borders in times of crisis – voices of researchers and practitioners" in the course of the XVII Polish Sociological Congress in Wrocław.
August 2019
- Katarzyna Stokłosa attends the panel discussion "Das erste Loch im »Eisernen Vorhang« - Ungarn 1989 und die Frage europäischer Grenzen".
May 2019
- Gerhard Besier presents on May 6th in the Wolf-Ferrari-Haus in Ottobrunn the third volume of the series "Jehovas Zeugen in Europa - Geschichte und Gegenwart".
March 2019
- The latest publication edited by Katarzyna Stokłosa, Borders and Memories. Conflicts and Co-operation in European Border Regions, has been published by LIT. This flyer offers detailed information.
- Gerhard Besier and Katarzyna Stokłosa present on March 21th the last volume of their trilogy "Jehovas Zeugen in Europa - Geschichte und Gegenwart" in Leipzig:
January 2019
- SNI Annual Report for 2018: Find out about our activities and publications during the last year in our Annual Report.
December 2018
- Publication of the journal "Religious Freedom. Its Confirmation and Violation During the 20th and 21st Centuries." (Series: Religion - Staat - Gesellschaft. Zeitschrift für Glaubensformen und Weltanschauungen / Journal for the Study of Beliefs and Worldviews, Issue 2017/1 and 2, LIT-Verlag). For more information, click here.
Oktober 2018
- Gerhard Besier and Katarzyna Stokłosa present on October 13th and 14th the last volume of their trilogy "Jehovas Zeugen in Europa - Geschichte und Gegenwart" in Frankfurt/M.:
March 2018
- Katarzyna Stokłosa becomes Member of Board of Directors of the Association for Borderlands Studies (ABS).
- Katarzyna Stokłosa participated in the discussion "Cuadriga - La tertulia internacional" at Deutsche Welle in Berlin. The full broadcast under the topic "Putin y Occidente: ¿relaciones envenenadas?" can be watched here (in Spanish).
- The latest publication edited by Gerhard Besier and Katarzyna Stokłosa, How to Deal with Refugees? Europe as a Continent of Dreams, has been published by LIT. This flyer offers detailed information and an order option.
December 2017
- SNI Annual Report for 2017:Find out about our activities and publications during the last year. Please click here to download the Annual Report for 2017.
July 2017
- Katarzyna Stokłosa participated in the Forum Democracy of Phoenix Television, Germany, on the topic: “The World in Chaos – Europe looks for her Place”. Other participants of the round table: Günter Verheugen (European Commissioner for Enlargement from 1999 to 2004), Brendan Peter Simms (Department of Politics and International Studies, University of Cambridge) and Manfred Görtemaker (Potsdam University). The full broadcast can be watched here (in German).
June 2017
- Katarzyna Stokłosa participated in the discussion "Cuadriga - La tertulia internacional" at Deutsche Welle in Berlin. The full broadcast under the topic "Macron y May: ¿oportunidad para Europa?" can be watched here (in Spanish).
May 2017
- Cambridge Scholar Publishing has issued a web post about Gerhard Besier as a part of their "Meet our authors" series. The post can be read here and includes a limited offer on the book "Jehovah's Witnesses in Europe: Past and Present", edited by Gerhard Besier and Katarzyna Stokłosa.
January 2017
- SNI Annual Report for 2016:Find out about our activities and publications during the last year. Please click here to download the Annual Report for 2016.
November 2016
- The latest publication edited by Gerhard Besier and Katarzyna Stokłosa, Neighbourhood Perceptions of the Ukraine Crisis: From the Soviet Union into Eurasia?, has been published by Routledge and can be ordered here. With this flyer you will get a 20% discount on the book!
Interview by UkeTube Ukrainian Video with Katarzyna Stokłosa and Gerhard Besier about the book.
March 2016
- The latest book presentation of Gerhard Besier and Katarzyna Stokłosa, Jehovah's Witnesses in Europe - Geschichte und Gegenwart, got a press coverage by the newspaper Blick Aktuell, in their 10/2016 issue. You can read the article in higher resolution here (in German).
February 2016
- The contribution on 'Die Deutschlandfeinde' in Sächsische Zeitung, by Katarzyna Stokłosa and Gerhard Besier (in German).
- An interview for Volksstimme: Steffen Honig talked to Katarzyna Stokłosa, Polish political scientist, on the relations between Poland and Germany.
January 2016
- SNI Annual Report 2015: Find out about our activities and publications during the last year. Please click here to download the Annual Report for 2015.
- Release of the English version of "Jehovah's Witnesses in Europe. Past and Present Volume 1 Part 1/1 and 1/2" by Prof. Stoklosa and Prof. Besier, published by Cambridge Scholars Publishing. Find more information and the possibility to buy the volume on the publisher's Website.
- Release of the Book "Intimately Associated for Many Years," two parts, by Prof. Dr. Dr. Dr. h. c. Gerhard Besier. For more information on the title, please see the flyer. You can purchase the book online, at Cambridge Scholars Publishing - Part One and Part Two.
- Publication of the journal "Zum Bibel- und Weltverständnis christlicher Religionen. The Bible and the World. Perspectives among major and minor religions" (Series: Religion - Staat - Gesellschaft. Zeitschrift für Glaubensformen und Weltanschauungen / Journal for the Study of Beliefs and Worldviews, Issue 2015/1 and 2, LIT-Verlag). For more information, click here.
June 2015
The book European Dictatorships: A Comparative History of the Twentieth Century has been selected to be showcased among June "Best Sellers", in the online campaign. Please, follow the link for furhter information.
February 2015
The book "Neither Good nor Bad. Why Human Beings Behave How They Do" has been selected to be showcased in the monthly "Recommended Reads" online campaign. Please click here for further information.
October 2014
Prof. Dr. Dr. Dr. h. c. Gerhard Besier and Prof. Dr. Katarzyna Stoklosa are visiting professors in the Europe Center at Stanford University.
July 2014
Release of the book "Neither Good nor Bad. Why Human Beings Behave How They Do".
April 2014
Steht die Annexion durch Russland bevor? Interview with Prof. Katarzyna Stoklosa in German.
March 2014
- Symposium: The Great War and Culture
The symposium will take place at the Notre Dame London Centre on March 20-23, 2014. The symposium will focus on new perspectives about the cultural and intellectual aftermath of World War I. For more information please have a look at the detailed program.
- Conference
A conference was taking place between March 7-8, organized by the Evangelical Church of the Rhineland.
"100 Years First World War - Commemorative Cultures and unresolved Conflicts in Europe"
- Lecture
Prof. Dr. Dr. Dr. h.c. Gerhard Besier was giving a lecture about "The Role of the European Churches Before and During the War".
For more information about the conference please have a look at the detailed program of the conference (in German).
January 2014
Release of the book "European Border Regions in Comparison: Overcoming Nationalistic Aspects or Re-Nationalization?"
Edited by Prof. Dr. Katarzyna Stokłosa and Prof. Dr. Dr. Dr. h. c. Gerhard Besier.
For further information, please see the flyer or order the book online at Routledge.
December 2013
Read a review released in Zicht 2013-4 Gemeenteraadsverkiezingen of "Religious Freedom and State-Church-Relations in Europe and the USA"
Gerhard Besier und Hubert Seiwert (eds.) in Religion - Staat - Gesellschaft. Journal for the Study of Beliefs and Worldviews. 14. Volume (2013), No. 1, LIT Verlag.
The 100th birthday of Willy Brandt: German Article - Berliner Zeitung 18th December 2013
Release of the book "European Dictatorships - A Comparative History of the Twentieth Century".
by Prof. Dr. Dr. Dr. h. c. Gerhard Besier und Prof. Dr. Katarzyna Stokłosa.
For further information, please see the flyer or order the book online at CSP.
September 2013
IV EUGEO Congress in Rome: Europe, what's next? Changing geographies and geographies of change, September 5-7, 2013.
Prof. Dr. Katarzyna Stokłosa and Prof. Dr. Dr. Dr. h. c. Gerhard Besier participate in the meeting under the topic "Beyond Fortress Europe? Bordering and Cross Bordering Processes along the EU's External Frontiers" with the specific topic "Polish Eastern Border from the End of the Second World War until Today".
June 2013
Review of “Permanent Revolution” from Patrick Stellbrink, in the Portal für Politikwissenchaft.
April 2013
The Institute is moving! The new office can be found in Chemnitz Str. 48. If you have difficulty reaching us by phone or post, please contact us by e-mail to institut[at]sigmund-neumann-institut.de
March 2012
Prof. Dr. Katarzyna Stokłosa received a professorship position at the University of Southern Denmark in Sønderborg. Her position focuses on Border Region Studies. Prof. Dr. Stokłosa will maintain her position of visiting scientist to the Department of European Studies. She will also maintain her responsibilities in the Sigmund Neumann Institute for the research on Freedom and Democracy.
February 2012
Prof. Dr. Katarzyna Stokłosa receives the Research Award from the University of Southern Denmark Sønderborg. For her research achievements in the years 2010/2011. Katarzyna Stoklosa was awarded with the amount of 50,000 Kronor given by the BHJ-Fund Research Award of the University of Southern Denmark. The prize money will allow the pursuing of further research.
