The Unexpected End: Hamburg’s Post-Colonial Research Center Silenced
On July 12, 2024, a meeting of the Wissenschaftsausschuss (Science Committee) of the Hamburg Parliament marked a somber day for academic research in the city. The committee, along with Science Senator Katharina Fegebank (Greens) and University President Hauke Heekeren, gathered to determine the fate of a research center that had made significant contributions to its field, despite its unassuming name: the Forschungsstelle Hamburgs (post-)koloniales Erbe / Hamburg und die frühe Globalisierung (Research Center on Hamburg’s (Post-)Colonial Heritage / Hamburg and Early Globalization).
Under the leadership of Jürgen Zimmerer, a history professor at the University of Hamburg, the center had carved out a prominent role in academia. However, its funding, unlike other University departments, came not from the University’s own budget but from special allocations granted by the Senate and Parliament. These grants, amounting to €200,000 per year, were always finite, lasting only two or three years at a time.
In April 2024, the Left faction in Parliament advocated for a change to this precarious funding situation, proposing a motion for permanent financing of academic positions, administrative staff, and fellowship programs. During the ensuing debate in the plenary hall, SPD representative Isabella Vértes-Schütter reassured, "The research center is not at risk." The Green Party’s Peter Zamory echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that "it is absolutely clear that the governing factions will take care of the financing." The Left’s motion was subsequently referred to the Wissenschaftsausschuss for further discussion.
In the committee meeting, members took turns praising the research center’s accomplishments. Yet, inexplicably, they approved its closure, a decision that had been made well in advance by the Senator and the University President.
Behind the Decision: Motives Unclear
The reasons behind the abrupt closure remain shrouded in obscurity. Intriguingly, the decision was made despite widespread recognition of the center’s importance. The research conducted by Zimmerer and his team had shed light on Hamburg’s complex colonial past and its enduring impact on the city’s present.
Some speculate that political motivations may have played a role. The research center’s work had often touched upon sensitive topics, such as Germany’s colonial crimes and the city of Hamburg’s complicity in the transatlantic slave trade. These topics have occasionally sparked controversy, attracting criticism from right-wing groups.
Others attribute the closure to a combination of budgetary constraints and a shift in research priorities within the University. However, critics argue that these factors alone cannot fully account for the sudden and unceremonious end of the center.
Consequences for Academic Research
The closure of the forskningsstelle has sent shockwaves through the academic community in Hamburg and beyond. Critics fear that it will create a chilling effect on research into sensitive historical topics, particularly those that challenge dominant narratives.
Furthermore, the decision raises concerns about the autonomy of research institutions. If political considerations can override the judgment of scholars and their representatives, the integrity of academic research is compromised.
A Call for Transparency
As the dust settles, questions remain unanswered. Why was the decision made to close the forskningsstelle despite its proven value? What were the true motives behind this abrupt move?
The citizens of Hamburg deserve transparency from their elected officials. They have a right to know the reasons behind the closure of a renowned research center that has contributed to our understanding of the city’s past and its ongoing legacy.
Conclusion
The closure of the Forschungsstelle Hamburgs (post-)koloniales Erbe is a profound loss for the field of academic research and for the city of Hamburg. It is essential that we demand transparency from those who made this decision and that we continue to support research that challenges dominant narratives and uncovers the complexities of our past. Only through open and honest dialogue can we hope to build a future that is truly inclusive and just.
