HIS

The Hamburg Institute for Social Research (HIS) is an independent private research institute founded in 1984. Based in Hamburg, it brings together social scientists from different disciplines to investigate historically and politically significant questions about society. Its research has long examined mass violence and continues to address violence alongside democracy, statehood, and the structures of contemporary capitalism, often through international comparison. Current work includes research groups focused on democracy and statehood, monetary sovereignty, and the sociology of law, as well as projects and networks exploring social theory and changes in rural life.

HIS shares research and fosters public discussion through academic events, lectures, conferences, and its journal Mittelweg 36. Its publishing house, Hamburger Edition, publishes books on social and political issues, while the Soziopolis portal presents social-science reporting, essays, reviews, and event coverage. The institute also maintains a specialist library and archive, with collections available for research and study. Through these activities, HIS connects scholarly inquiry with broader debates about historical experience and contemporary society.