Study on Interactions of Petitions with Policey for the Social Order in Early Modern Germany

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K13213
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 03040:History of Europe and America-related
• Research Institution: Niigata University
• Principal Investigator: KOBAYASHI SHIGEKO 新潟大学, 人文社会科学系, 准教授 (20706288)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 魔女 / 請願 / ポリツァイ / 帝国最高法院

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study aimed to elucidate the dual movement of discipline and the voluntary efforts of subjects that progressed during the formation of the early modern state. In 2020, a research was conducted on the actions of petitioners and the roles of officials in the 1660s in the Electorate of Mainz. The results of this investigation were published in a paper, which clarified that The difference in attitudes between local and central officials created room for negotiation for the petitioner.

In 2022 due to difficulties in investigating materials at the territorial level, a survey of the more accessible Imperial Court records was initiated and compiled into a paper,which was included in a collection edited by Naoko Matsumoto. In 2023, a survey of the judicial records of the Reichshofrat was started. Since studies on witch cases in the Reichshofrat, including comparisons with the Reichskammergericht, are still limited, significant research outcomes can be expected in this area.

Free Research Field

近世ドイツ史

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

近年先進国ではポピュリズムが台頭し、その排外主義を露わにするようになった。民主主義的な価値である「多数の政治参加」のネガティブな側面と言える。こうした現代的問題を前に、本研究は前近代社会において「臣民」が「お上」にどのような動機からどのようなコミュニケーション回路を通じて働きかけ、またそれが社会全体にどのような帰結をもたらしたのかを明らかにすることを目指すものである。領邦―帝国という重層的な司法機構の中で臣民がその制度をどのように利用したのか、学識者などエリート層、役人、領主はそれにどう答えるのかを問う本研究は、上下双方向のコミュニケーションとしての支配実践を実証的に明らかにするものである。