Ein schwieriges Genre: Zum Ort der Biografik in der Arbeitergeschichtsschreibung

Abstract

The article examines the development of biographical research in general and particularly in labour history. Considering the impact of the cognitive sciences biographical research provides different trajectories for historical, social-historical and cultural-historical approaches. Sudies on labour movements, however, are still based on biographical research that is conducted as traditional historical social research with an emphasis on milieu theory, generational studies or a general lack of theory. The articel advocates new perspectives on biographical studies in labour history that go beyond the topics of milieus and generations and underlines the need to deduce from the individual historical person.