Graduiertenkolleg Authority and Trust (GKAT) Konferenz beim HCA

GKAT Conference: Contested Authority, Trust in Transition | Making Sense of the American Landscape

For the third time, the PhD students of the research training group on Authority and Trust in American Culture, Society, History, and Politics (GKAT) organize an international conference in the final year of their studies. The conference is a great opportunity to discuss GKAT’s research internationally in an interdisciplinary forum. 

Against the backdrop of a rapidly changing political, social, and cultural landscape in the U.S., the conference will discuss the contestation of authority and the transformations of trust in America from multiple interdisciplinary angles. We are happy to happy to welcome scholars from all over the world at the HCA from May 20–22, 2026.

Apart from seven thematic sessions, we are thrilled to announce a keynote by Rieke Havertz (International Correspondent, Die Zeit) on our opening night, May 20, 2026, 6.15pm on the changing transatlantic relations, titled: Goodbye, America? Why We Need to Reassess our Relationship with the US without Letting Emotions Get in the Way.

Please join us in our discussions on the many exciting contributions and conversations on the current landscape and future development of authority and trust in the US!