The course

The Max Planck Summer Academy for Legal History provides a selected group of highly motivated early-stage graduates, usually PhD candidates, an in-depth introduction to methods and principles of research in legal history. The academy consists of two modules and lasts two weeks; the first week provides an introduction to the study of sources, methodological principles, as well as theoretical models and controversial research debates on basic research fields of legal history (module 1). During the second week the participants discuss a special research theme and develop their own approach to the theme (module 2).

Special theme 2015: Cultural Translation of Law

Throughout history, law and legal knowledge were circulating between cultures, countries, and continents. Sometimes willingly adopted, sometimes forcefully imposed by powers from outside, the process of dealing with foreign law often changed not only the sources of law, but a whole structure of normative thinking. What happens when law is taken up by a different culture, having to operate in another language? How does its meaning shift during this process, how do its function and even its normativity change?
The course will take place at the Max Planck Institute for European Legal History in Frankfurt am Main, Germany.

Eligibility Requirements

- Early-stage graduates, usually PhD candidates
- Working knowledge of English is required, German is not a prerequisite

Application

Required documents for the application are a CV, a project summary (approx. 10 pages) and a letter of motivation.

Fees

There is no participation fee. Accommodation will be provided by the organizers. Participants, however, will be responsible for covering their travel expenses. There will be a limited number of scholarships available.

For further information please visit the Max Planck Summer Academy’s website:
http://www.rg.mpg.de/research/summer_academy