Spectacular Acts of Violence Transnational public spheres and terrorism, 1890-1914

• Applicant: Privatdozent Dr. Moritz Florin
• Subject Area: Modern and Contemporary History
• Term: from 2019 to 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 416967536

The project aims to analyze the communicative impact of spectacular acts of violence during the last two decades before the outbreak of World War I from a comparative and transnational perspective. Attacks will be called "spectacular" if they caused particularly fierce reactions in the public. In a first step, the project aims to deliver a detailed description of the immediate reactions to such attacks in Spain, France and the Russian Empire based on the existing literature and on sources from the immediate environs of the attachs. This will be followed by a qualitative content analysis of selected newspapers reporting on assassinations. Different types of newspapers will be analysed: First, newspapers whose correspondents were on the spot, and subsequently the national and international press, which commented on and classified the events. The project will thus contribute not only to a better understanding of communicative dynamics triggered by violence, but also to the transnational interconnections between different public spheres before the outbreak of World War I.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants