General Activities
During the year, the network continued to circulate information through its mailing list ( to subscribe, send a blank email to: nw21-subscribe(at)lists.eera-ecer.de) and its webpage, and worked on the preparation of the Bloomsbury publication.
Cooperation: the main cooperation this year was the first joint symposium with Network 19 (Ethnography) at ECER 2026. Cooperation with other networks, such as the network 33 (e.g. joint workshops on gender or racism), is being explored.
Publications
Links to journals: the network has regular links with Cliopsy, which comprises both a journal and a book series. Presenters are regularly invited to submit contributions there, and several network members have already published in it (e.g. Reinhart Fatke).
Members can also publish in the existing yearbook mentioned by network members.
Activity this year: a review of a book edited by members of the network, was published in the Cliopsy journal.
Book project: a collective volume/handbook based on the work of the network is in preparation with Bloomsbury. 32 contributions are currently planned; feedback to authors is expected in September–October 2026, submission to Bloomsbury is planned for January 2027, and the book is intended to be presented at ECER 2027. Bloomsbury has expressed interest in further publications emerging from the network. The editorial of the handbook will also address the origins and history of the network. Other publications: a contribution on the origins and history of Network 21 (by its founding convenors) could be prepared.
Future Plans
Formats: making greater use of the full range of ECER formats (paper symposia, long papers, research workshops), with an emphasis on joint discussion of published texts and work with concrete empirical or other material (e.g. jointly interpreting a film), to foster mutual understanding of different psychoanalytic perspectives.
Interdisciplinary collaboration: developing more interactive formats with Network 19 (Ethnography), such as joint workshops built around one central question and concrete cases; a possible dedicated workshop on research ethics in ethnographic and qualitative research. A decision on further cooperation will be taken by May 2027. Collaboration with other networks (e.g. Gender) will also be explored.
ECER 2027 (Debrecen, 31 August – 3 September 2027, “Learning Communities and Shared Futures in Education”): members are invited to submit ideas for a Special Call; the Bloomsbury book will be presented.
Publications: submission of the Bloomsbury volume (January 2027), further publications with Bloomsbury and Cliopsy, and a publication documenting the history of the network.
Organisation: over the next three years, the network will develop operating rules (appointment of Convenors and Co-Convenors, length of terms – a four-year term has been proposed –, termination of roles, inactive members) and prepare the succession of the current Convenors, Arnaud Dubois and Patrick, with a handover planned in 2029 (ECER Paris).
Networking: reactivating previous international contacts, making regular use of the mailing list, and identifying partner networks and topics for Joint Sessions at an early stage. EERA funding: the network may consider applying for EERA funding to support an interactive joint workshop with Network 19 (Ethnography), for example on research ethics, and/or the dissemination of the Bloomsbury volume.
NW 21 runs a mailing list and invites researchers to join. To join the mailing list, send a blank message to (nw21-subscribe(at)lists.eera-ecer.de)