History

The master's profile History of Social Movements and Protest examines how people have organized themselves to demand rights and bring about social change. By combining historical analysis with insights from anthropology, students learn how social differences arise that constitute the basis for collective struggles for justice. A unique feature is the opportunity to do an internship at the prestigious International Institute for Social History in Amsterdam, where students work directly with world-renowned collections on the global history of labor and protest.

The master's profile Power, Politics, and Historical Injustice focuses on how individuals have formed communities, within and beyond national borders, and how societies have dealt with the legacy of historical injustices such as colonial exploitation, slavery, and authoritarian rule. Students also examine how the use of the past in the present and the struggle for truth and justice are themselves historical and political issues. By integrating historical methods with concepts from anthropology and legal studies, this profile enables students to critically analyze the many forms of political power and influence that existed before and alongside the rise of democratic institutions, and the politics of memory and redress.

The master's profile Religion, Culture, and Civil Society examines how beliefs, rituals, and cultural practices have shaped identities and communities throughout the centuries. Students explore how religious organizations functioned as political, normative, and cultural forces. They study religious and cultural diversity in urban landscapes, learn how migrants have claimed spaces, and analyze how stories of diaspora and exile have left their mark on the religious heritage of Jews, Christians, and Muslims, and how these have contributed to the religious pluralism of contemporary society.

The master's profile Environmental History: Climate and Society explores the long-term relationship between human societies and the natural world, analyzing how communities in the past have dealt with environmental change, natural disasters, and conflicts over scarce resources. Students also gain insight into the evolution of environmental policy from the 1970s to the present day. This specialization is characterized by its interdisciplinary approach, in which students learn to link historical research to insights from other sciences and interest groups.