Welcome to the homepage of the section for Development Sociology and Social Anthropology!

The Development Sociology and Social Anthropology Section (ESSA) of the German Sociological Association (DGS) was initially convened as a Working Group in Mannheim in 1972. It first appeared as the Development Sociology Section at the 17th Sociologists’ Day in Kassel in 1974 under the leadership of Gerhard Grohs and was renamed in 1988 to acknowledge its close collaboration with colleagues from anthropology. Since then, ESSA has served as an international forum for scholars to discuss sociological and social anthropological questions. Its research focuses on empirically grounded theoretical reflections on the emergence and transformation of social processes in regions beyond Western Europe—including Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East—in line with a historically informed sociology of global entanglements. At the same time, ESSA members have also contributed to sociological theories more broadly and engaged in discussions on social change, gender, knowledge, power, transnationalism, globalisation, social inequality, and civil society.

Since the 1970s, ESSA members have played a crucial role in shaping development sociology both theoretically and empirically. With the aim of understanding societies and transformation processes in what is now called the›Global South,‹ESSA has provided a platform for those challenging the universalisation of sociological theories through research conducted outside the West. Its emphasis on global power asymmetries and conflicts underpins a commitment to a historical and processual sociology that addresses past inequalities and their impact on future societies. By recognising the plurality of ontologies, epistemologies, and methodological contexts, ESSA has promoted approaches to research that are sensitised to local ontologies, epistemologies, cultures, politics, economies, societies, and their histories. ESSA researchers have also critically examined the development nexus, reflecting on its power dynamics and the structural inequalities in international development cooperation.

ESSA serves as a hub for sociologists from across the globe seeking common ground for critical discussion. Its agenda continues to expand, reflecting emerging approaches in sociology—such as global sociology, decolonial sociology, post‐development, indigenisation, and provincialisation—in order to address global power relations. Additionally, ESSA explores how non‐canonical epistemologies (e.g. feminist, queer, indigenous, and critical race studies) can contribute to confronting the persistence of colonial legacies in development sociology, rethinking the relationship between development sociology and development cooperation, and expanding epistemic freedom.

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If you are interested in joining the mailing list of the Development Sociology and Social Anthropology Section, please contact Susanne Brandl at susanne.brandl(at)uni-passau.de.

To share information—such as events or publications—with the ESSA community, please email Susanne Brandl and Judith Ehlert at susanne.brandl(at)uni-passau.de and judith.ehlert(at)uni-passau.de, respectively.

Questions, suggestions, and feedback are always welcome, preferably directed to Judith Ehlert at judith.ehlert(at)uni-passau.de.

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Executive Board & Speakers

Prof. Dr. Eva Gerharz (First Speaker)
Fulda University of Applied Sciences
Professorship for Sociology with Specialisation in Globalisation
eva.gerharz(at)sk.hs-fulda.de

PD Dr. Antje Daniel
University of Vienna
Institute for International Development
antje.daniel(at)univie.ac.at

Dr. Lucas Cé Sangalli
Ruhr University Bochum
Chair of Qualitative Methods of Social Research
lucas.cesangalli(at)rub.de

Dr. Judith Ehlert
University of Passau
Chair of Critical Development Studies—Southeast Asia
judith.ehlert(at)uni-passau.de