Global Justice and Humanities Practices

Areas of focus

CHCI facilitates the participation of centers and institutes conducting or developing programs or research projects that use humanities methods and practices to address critical issues of global justice and equity, including:

• Historical injustices and their long-term impacts on racial, gender, and economic inequality
• Migration and diaspora studies, focusing on identity and belonging in a globalized world
• Environmental justice and the role of the humanities in responding to climate crises
• Health humanities, particularly the intersection of health, equity, and access
• The role of the arts and humanities in social movements and human rights advocacy
• Gender justice and the intersections of race, class, and gender in global contexts

These examples suggest some of the areas where this initiative might engage, but we encourage participants to help shape the scope of these themes. We welcome projects that expand the definition of justice and humanities practices in innovative and transformative ways.

Initiatives Activities

This Initiative offers a rich array of activities designed to foster collaboration, amplify impact, and support the advocacy of humanities research on a global scale. Participating projects have access to a dynamic platform where they can engage with a global network of scholars, share their work, and collectively advance research and public engagement around critical global themes.

Plenary Online Workshops

In April 2025, CHCI held a plenary online workshop that convened all participating projects. This virtual gathering created opportunities to engage with fellow scholars and program leaders working on related themes. By bringing together researchers from diverse institutions and regions, this workshop fostered exchange and collaboration on a scale rarely possible in individual projects.

Future workshops will allow:

• Cross-pollination of Ideas: By hearing about others' approaches, challenges, and successes, workshop participants will gain new insights that can inform and strengthen their own work.
• Collaborative Problem-Solving: Workshops will provide a space for peer support and collective brainstorming around methodological questions, strategies to scale up projects, etc.
• Building Relationships: The online setting will facilitate meaningful connections with potential collaborators across the globe, creating a foundation for future partnerships.

In-Person Sessions at the Annual Meeting in Berlin (June 2025)

The CHCI Annual Meeting in Berlin featured a dedicated in-person session with participants from this Initiative, as well as sessions highlighting the broader impact of humanities research. These sessions provided space for deeper dialogue and interactive presentations, allowing participants to engage in more intensive discussions and networking.

Future workshop will offer further opportunities for:

• Deepening Collaboration: The in-person format offers a unique opportunity to dive deeper into research themes, establish working groups, and solidify collaborative efforts started in the online workshop.
• Feedback and Visibility: Presenting project’s progress and challenges to a live audience of peers will give participants actionable feedback and boosts their project's visibility within the international humanities community.
• Networking and Partnerships: Berlin will be the setting for informal and structured networking events, where participants can build lasting relationships with scholars, funders, and advocates for humanities research.

Initiatives Online Platform

CHCI’s online platform will highlight the progress, events, publications, and outcomes of all participating projects. This will not only amplify the project’s reach but also provide an ongoing space for updates and engagement with a global audience.

The online platform aims to advance:

• Global Reach: The platform ensures the project’s visibility well beyond participating institutions, reaching a global network of academics, university administrators, and policymakers.
• Public Engagement: We encourage projects that engage with broader publics, and the platform will serve as a hub to share work with community leaders, cultural institutions, and the general public.
• Documentation and Advocacy: The platform will also serve as an archive of Initiative outcomes, which can be used to demonstrate the impact of project to funders and decision-makers.

Collective Advocacy for Humanities Research

One of the key goals of the CHCI Initiatives is to leverage the collective expertise and practical experience of participants to advocate for the humanities in new and powerful ways. The Initiatives offer concrete illustrations of how humanities methods and practices play a unique and crucial role in addressing the world’s most pressing global challenges—whether they pertain to digital technologies, social justice, or environmental crises.

Through workshops and collaborative discussions, we will work together to consolidate the outcomes of individual projects into a broader, cohesive narrative that highlights the essential contributions of humanities research. By demonstrating how humanistic inquiry offers critical perspectives, historical depth, and ethical frameworks that are indispensable for tackling complex global issues, the Initiatives will help build a case for increased support from funders, university administrators, policymakers, and the general public.

Our goals are to

• Amplify the Impact of Humanities Research: Beyond advancing their own project, participants will contribute to a global conversation about the unique role of the humanities in addressing urgent challenges.
• Advance Strategic Advocacy: together with participants, CHCI will design tools and strategies for effectively communicating the relevance and impact of humanities research, which can help secure institutional or external funding.
• Influence Policy and Funding: Participating projects will be part of a larger advocacy initiative aimed at influencing decision-makers and ensuring continued investment in humanities research.

Joining and Financial Support

This Initiative is still open to all humanities centers and institutes working on projects related to the theme of global justice and humanities practices. Express your interest and join this collaborative network to contribute to and benefit from the collective work of addressing global justice issues through the humanities.

For more information on how to join and on applying for financial support, see this page.