Call for Applications: The Return of Oligarchy. On the History and Critique of a Powerful Phenomenon

Workshops, 10/11 September 2026 and 11/12 March 2027, Leibniz Center for Literary and Cultural Research (ZfL)

Organizers: Federal Agency for Civic Education, Leibniz Center for Literary and Cultural Research (ZfL)

The oligarchs are back. Especially since the last U.S. election—and the active involvement of “tech bros”— they have become a global phenomenon. Prior to that, oligarchy was considered an exotic byproduct of the shift from socialism to Western capitalism and was mainly viewed as a Central-East and Eastern European phenomenon. The typical oligarch was an extremely wealthy post-Soviet individual who profited from the accumulation of capital during the so-called transition period—often in dubious ways. They exerted far-reaching control across the economy, politics, and media in their home country, while also spending money on major charity or art projects, both within and outside their country. Today, oligarchy presents itself as Western and high-tech. It no longer wants to remain in the shadows of politics.

The current discourse surrounding this new-old term often focuses on individuals who seek to shape the planet’s future through their own economic power by investing heavily in accelerationist technologies. Yet this discourse rarely addresses the political and economic structures that enable such power dynamics. Oligarchy is often associated with outrageous luxury, kitsch, and poor taste. The super-rich conduct shady business behind closed doors, while trying to build a public reputation as they purchase football clubs, prestigious publishing houses, and organize mega-events. These days, however, they also represent a form of unbridled capitalism that paves the way for far-right views and even fascist tendencies.

Oligarchy is a term from antiquity that originally referred to a distorted form of aristocracy. Over time, the concept has evolved and taken on different meanings in various regions and forms of government. As early as 1946, Aldous Huxley foresaw the dawn of an age of oligarchs who would seize power with the help of science, technology, and nationalism. Paradoxically, oligarchy nevertheless remains a vague concept. While everyone has a general idea of what it means, the discourse lacks a more precise theoretical clarification and historical contextualization. This is particularly true today, when social and existential uncertainties cannot be adequately described without a proper conceptual framework of oligarchy.

The two interdisciplinary workshops aim to clarify the theoretical definition of the term “oligarchy.” They will examine the concept from historical, political, anthropological, and cultural studies perspectives. We invite researchers, as well as contributors from civil society, the arts, and the media, to engage with the following questions:

• How can the phenomenon of oligarchy be explained historically and conceptually? How does it relate to concepts and ideologies such as democracy and state-building, imperialism and decoloniality, late capitalism, accelerationism, and extractivism?
• What social structures and institutions does oligarchic power bring forth? Are there oligarchically shaped societies or oligarchic social norms?
• Are there specific cultural formations and aesthetic forms shaped by oligarchic structures? Do oligarchies manifest in particular spaces and time periods?

We are interested in contributions addressing all regions and contexts that help explain the current situation. We welcome a wide range of formats, including academic presentations, artistic contributions, and multimedia research projects.

Please submit an abstract (max. 300 words, in English) along with a short bio (approx. 50 words, in English, including name and institutional affiliation) by 15 June 2026 to:
bewerbungen@zfl-berlin.org
We will send out notifications of acceptance at the beginning of July 2026.

Travel and accommodation costs will be covered by the organizers.