The international network aims to establish an interdisciplinary research agenda linking historical as well as social science through a praxeology of surveying. By collectively exploring global cultures of enquête, the network bridges research questions from (historical) sociology, the history of science and quantification, as well as colonial history.

The term enquête serves as a heuristic tool within the network, enabling the observation and comparison of diverse, often contrasting epistemological, political, and legal practices. Unlike survey, which implies an overview from an elevated vantage point, enquête is more dynamic and interactive. It involves both the quest (quaero in Latin) for clues to reconstruct causal chains and the movement into the field to establish or contest „facts“, often with legal implications. In this sense, enquête histories can open a historical and comparative perspective that cuts across existing national and disciplinary historiographies.

By integrating sociological and historical insights, the network sharpens the focus on contemporary struggles for knowledge about social and natural phenomena. It also opens pathways to alternative genealogies from a longue durée perspective. While not geographically confined, particular attention is given to Sub-Saharan Africa as a key area for exploring pre-colonial, colonial, and post-colonial configurations.

The journey started in 2019 at Centre Marc Bloch in Berlin. Since then, several workshops have taken place and the network has grown. For the period 2024-2027, the network receives funding from the German Research Foundation (DFG).

Martin Herrnstadt (Bremen)
Léa Renard (Heidelberg)

info@enquete-cultures.org