Otto Brunner (1898-1982). Historiography and political intellectual life in the 20th century

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Reinhard Blänkner
• Subject Area: History of Science ; Modern and Contemporary History
• Term: from 2015 to 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 270663442

This application intends the funding of preparative archival researches in order to write an intellectual biography of Otto Brunner (1898-1982). To this day Brunner counts as one of the most enigmatic and multifaceted personalities in the 20th centuries German-speaking intellectual world. The evaluation of his work still polarises historical academia. Nevertheless, the sustained influence of his work and particularly Land und Herrschaft (Land and Lordship, 1st ed. 1939, 4th Rev. ed. 1959), Adeliges Landleben und europäischer Geist (1949) and Neue Wege der Sozialgeschichte (1956, 2nd Rev. ed. 1968) is undisputable. His works have been translated into Italian, Spanish, English, Finnish and Japanese and therefore internationally received. However, the interrelation between his National Socialist engagement and his academic work has become the subject of controversial debates. Notably the issue of possible continuities in academic contexts and his political attitude after 1945 increasingly has become the focus. Beyond any apologetic and denunciatory interpretations of Brunners works the aim should be to prepare the publication of an intellectual biography, based on broad archival researches. It shall neither be written as a traditional chronology in a sense of developmental history nor shall it be reduced to an work-immanent interpretation of Brunners writings. Brunners ways of thoughts should rather be contextualized within the contemporary multifarious academic and political discourses. To underline his intellectual significance there should be paid attention to at least three aspects. First, the historical and interdisciplinary profile of Brunner, which continues far beyond historical researches. Furthermore the remarkable collaboration with intellectuals of other disciplines, namely jurisprudence, literary studies, philosophical anthropology and sociology. Finally, the appreciation of Otto Brunner as a representative of 'academic-intellectuals' (G. Hübinger) in the 20th century. Factually, the intended monograph follows latest biographical researches towards (mostly) German historians of the 20th century. Methodically it respects latest works in biographical and generational researches as well as Historical Network Research. The project ties in with own long lasting examination towards the work of Otto Brunner and likewise with former archival researches and appropriate publications.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants