The Socio-Cultural Life of Sociological Concepts

The Einstein-funded postdoctoral project of Dr. Nayera Abdelrahman Soliman (BGSMCS) explores the historical development and contemporary uses of key social and political concepts in the Arab region. It investigates how terms in Arabic, English, and French have been coined, translated, and renegotiated—whether through colonial encounters or by local actors. The project’s aim is to produce a comparative lexicon of 60 core concepts, developed collectively in three international workshops (Berlin, Beirut, Berlin; 2026–2029). In doing so, it makes Arab intellectual contributions more visible within global theoretical debates.