Marginal People in Cities in the 19th and 20th Centuries: Beggars, Vagrants, and the Homeless Between Social Assistance and Repression

This is a call for a four year PhD study program at the Institute of History SAS, Bratislava, Slovakia.

The aim of this dissertation is to conduct in-depth research on the social status and integration problems of beggars, the homeless, and other marginal groups in cities. An important research question will focus on gender differences in status and the limits of integration. In addition to socio-historical and socio-cultural approaches, the emphasis will be on comparison.

Case studies of selected institutions (e.g., poorhouses, workhouses) in different towns/regions of the Habsburg Monarchy/Europe will serve as the basis for comparison, with a focus on the issue of social policy transfer into less industrialized regions. The specific topic will be refined during the PhD study based on the chosen regions and institutions, considering the available research sources.

The candidate is expected to have a basic overview of political and social developments in the selected country/region and possess adequate language skills.

Requirements: Knowledge of Slovak/Czech and English, proficiency in the language(s) of the countries/regions selected for comparison.