The SFB short film:

About property in transition and the work of the SFB.

This film is the work of Catharina Göldner and Katharina Hamann.

The members of the Collaborative Research Centre in summer 2023

Image: Marlen van den Ecker

Welcome to the website of the Collaborative Research Centre TRR 294 "Structural Change of Property"!

The Collaborative Research Centre pursues the goal of investigating the fundamental structural change of property that could be observed at the latest since 1989. The Collaborative Research Centre contains a total of 23 subprojects at eight locations in Germany: Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena (Sprecher*innenhochschule), Universität Erfurt, Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Technische Universität Berlin, Leibniz-Institute for Research on Society and Space, Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, Technische Universität Darmstadt.

While private property has gained in importance worldwide since 1989 under conditions of increasing concentration and deregulation, the resulting property system has proved to be both crisis-prone and highly controversial in the face of new economic, political and technological challenges. It isn't challenged only by the global financial and economic crises, but also by political conflicts over the appropriation, distribution and containment of private property, as well as by the dynamics of the knowledge and bio-economies, which are linked to alternative concepts of common property, shared use and free access to resources.

News

Event information

As part of the Monday Lectures series at the Max Weber Centre in Erfurt, Sophia Bianchi Mancini will give a lecture on “Questioning Divine Property and its Limits” on June 8, 2026, at 4:15 p.m. This will be followed by a total of three additional lectures by her on June 15 and 29, grouped under the theme “Property, Appropriation, and the Economy of Religion.” 

"Crisis and Transformation"

On 4 June 2026, Silke van Dyk will be a guest speaker at the ‘Crisis and Transformation’ conference in Berlin. Since the financial crisis of 2007/2008, there has been a relentless succession of crises perceived on a global scale. Consequently, there is widespread talk of crises, multiple crises and impending disasters across a wide range of contexts. Academic engagement with crisis as a concept and phenomenon has also gained new momentum. Despite this revival, the concept of crisis remains analytically vague to this day. Together with other guests, Silke van Dyk will speak at 2 pm on the topic of “Crisis and Society”.

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New working paper online!

In the newly published working paper, “Sharing as Having,” Carsten Hermann-Pillath presents the integration of two theoretical frameworks developed within the SFB: "Weltbeziehungen" and HAVINGS. HAVINGS and "Weltbeziehungen" influence one another, thereby giving rise to a variety of forms of sharing. 

“Erben” – a podcast episode from the bpb featuring Silke van Dyk

Some people inherit nothing, while others inherit entire companies. Inheritances in Germany are distributed unevenly—just like wealth. Silke van Dyk and Reiner Eichenberger discuss whether a higher inheritance tax would lead to greater social equality. Anatol Dutta explains the fundamental principles underlying inheritance law. Hosted by Sarah Zerback. 

Listen to the podcast here

New podcast episode online!

The SFB podcast appropriate is starting its second season. The first episode is titled SFB Structural Change of Property - Looking Back and Ahead with Prof. Silke van Dyk. The hosts speak with Silke van Dyk about the significance of property, the origins of the SFB, and its research findings to date. 

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“Contested Transformation: Conflicts Surrounding Digital and Environmental Change”

On May 21, 2026, at 7:00 p.m., several (former) SFB members will present the volume "Umkämpfte Transformation" at the Augustinian Monastery in Erfurt and discuss it with representatives from practice. The book compiles key findings from the now-completed subproject B05 on property, inequality, and class formation. Featuring Klaus Dörre, Steffen Liebig, Stefan Schmalz, and many others. 

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“The New Municipalism in Barcelona—A Beacon for Progressive Urban Policy?”

Silke van Dyk and Markus Kip will present key findings of their research during the first funding phase on May 12, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Their presentation will focus on the question of whether the Barcelona en Comú coalition has succeeded during its eight years in office (2015–2023) in substantially democratizing urban infrastructure and local public services, thereby curbing the influence of private-sector interests in favor of a public policy of the commons.

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New Working Paper online!

In their new working paper, “Beyond (Private) Property? Alternative Forms of Property and Alternatives to Property,” Stefanie Graefe, Mike Laufenberg, Susanne Lettow, Sebastian Sevignani, and Marco Sonnberger discuss the role that property (particularly private property) plays in capitalist societies, the problems associated with it, and where and how alternatives can be identified, conceived and discussed.

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New: Dossier alternatives to private property

In this dossier, we have compiled contributions from the SFB that examine alternatives to private property from various perspectives. The aim is not only to gain a better understanding of the mechanisms and contradictions of capitalist private property. Many contributions also present concrete alternative models and explore both their potential and their failures: from the commons and municipal infrastructure to socialization and cooperatives, all the way to socialist or non-Western concepts of property.

 

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To the News archive...

Events

Kino am Markt; Jena

Movie series "Property in view"

On June 23rd, we will show the movie Her (USA 2013).

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To the complete schedule of dates...

An overview of the most important events of the Collaborative Research Center is available here.