German Institute for Global and Area Studies | Leibniz-Institut für Globale und Regionale Studien

World Order Narratives of the Global South, Phase II

In its second funding phase, the WONAGO project continues to investigate powerful world order narratives in Latin America, Africa, the Middle East and Asia. It particularly aims to understand those perceptions in these regions that - as currently in the Ukraine war - differ significantly from prevailing ideas in the U.S., the EU, and their allies.
BMBF, 2024-2027

Team

Dr. Khalil Dahbi

Research Fellow

Dr. Hakkı Taş

Research Fellow

Prof. Dr. Miriam Prys-Hansen

Lead Research Fellow / Head of Research Programme "Global Orders and Foreign Policies"

Cooperation Partners

Universität Hamburg German Institute for Global and Area Studies (GIGA)

Head

Prof. Dr. Eckart Woertz

Director of the GIGA Institute for Middle East Studies / Editor GIGA Focus Middle East

Prof. Dr. Jürgen Zimmerer

Universität Hamburg

Prof. Dr. Ulrich Mücke

Universität Hamburg

Research Questions

World order narratives are powerful representations and interpretations of global order and conflicts that posit and define the role of one's own country, region and/or culture. The following questions are at the heart of this project:
- What views on global developments and problems are articulated in the world regions ?
- Do these views differ between countries and regions?
- Are there narratives of the South that are distinct from those of the North (and East)?

Contribution to International Research

Today, research in the humanities and social sciences on the world's regions faces the challenge of adequately taking into account the significance of the Global South, freeing itself from colonially shaped patterns of thought, remaining methodologically compatible and at the same time developing area-specific expertise. When interpreting the global upheavals of recent decades, it is therefore of paramount importance to take greater account of developments in the Global South.

The project researches world order narratives and strengthens the cooperation of the area studies in Hamburg and between Hamburg and the areas. It contributes to the further advancement of Area Studies in Germany and internationally.

Research Design and Methods

In the second funding phase, the research project continues to investigate powerful world order narratives in Latin America, Africa, the Middle East and Asia. It particularly aims to understand those perceptions in these regions that - as currently in the Ukraine war - differ significantly from prevailing ideas in the U.S., the EU, and their allies.

The project is divided into two sub-projects. Sub-project 1 is located at Hamburg University and researches world order narratives in Latin America, in sub-Saharan Africa, and their global connections. Sub-project 2 is located at the German Institute for Global and Area Studies (GIGA) and researches world order narratives in Asia, in the area of the Middle East and Northern Africa (MENA), and their global connections. The research project is part of the existing close cooperation of the applying institutions on the one side and with partners in Hamburg and in the world areas on the other.

The collaborative project includes intensive cooperation with partners in the world regions. In the second funding phase, five post-doctoral researchers from the first phase will continue to work in the project. In addition, a fellow and guest program will deepen the intensive exchange with Latin America, Africa, the Middle East and Asia. As in the first funding phase, different formats for transfer beyond scientific communities will be put into practice.

In subproject 2, the research design will be further developed and discussed in a first step and in close exchange with partners in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and Asia. This step will be followed by research visits to the MENA and Asia. In a third phase of subproject 2, the research stays in Hamburg will be evaluated in exchange with the partners from the world regions, and then written up and published in a fourth step.

These work phases are accompanied by regular workshops and meetings, in which the progress of the research work is discussed together with the colleagues of subproject 1, partners from Hamburg, Europe and from the world regions. In addition, public relations and transfer activities will take place throughout the project period with the aim of making research results better known to decision-makers and the general public in cooperation with partners from the MENA and Asia. Together with subproject 1, another joint publication will also be prepared, written and published as a dossier in an academic journal or as a book.