Travelling Morals. Knowledge and Morality in Transnational Negotiations of Sex Work and ‘Good’ Regulation of Prostitution

• Applicants: Professor Dr. Reiner Keller; Professorin Dr. Angelika Poferl
• Subject Area: Sociological Theory ; Empirical Social Research
• Term: since 2026
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 571741473

The project addresses issues that arose from prior research by co-applicant Reiner Keller on “Knowledge Politics in the Current Regulation of Prostitution in Germany”. Firstly, it seeks to investigate the situated interrelationships between knowledge production and moral evaluations/moral vocabularies in transnational negotiations on sex work and ‘proper’ regulation of prostitution. Secondly, it aims to provide a sociology of knowledge and problem-centred sociological analysis of the significance and dynamics of transnational discourses in this area. The overarching goal is to develop a nuanced understanding of the current transnational dynamics within this regulatory field and its mediations of knowledge production and moral evaluations. Drawing on the Sociology of Knowledge Approach to Discourse (SKAD), the project will analyse websites and documents produced by key actors. In addition, interviews with central protagonists involved in these discursive negotiations will be conducted and examined.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants