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The aim of the dissertation is the analysis of the social, economic, cultural and symbolic capital of the Erdődy family through its representation in the 18th century. We understand representation as a phenomenon of communication through which we try to reconstruct actions in a historical sense. In the dissertation, social and political representation will be followed through a probe on selected family members in their personal correspondence, wills, and preserved accounts. Research needs to be focused on the family's marriage policy, patronage, appearance of residences, festivities, art collections and portrait galleries of the family. The expensive life of the Hungarian aristocracy often caused them to get into debt, so it will be important to monitor the debts, receivables and interest of family members. A large part of the archival materials is stored with the Slovak National Archives in the Central Archive of the Erdődy family, in the fund of the Secretariat of Ján Nepomuk and Jozef Erdődy in Bratislava, which contains economic and financial matters of the family and the noble court of the Erdődy family. Further specification of the topic is expected during the first year of study, depending on the amount and nature of the archival material. Requirements: knowledge of Hungarian, Latin, German.

The aim of this doctoral dissertation will be to make a detailed analysis of the contents, sources, style and language of the historical works of Franciscus Kazy SJ—i.e., his history of the University of Trnava (Historia Universitatis Tyrnaviensis, 1737) as well as the three-volume compendium of the history of the Hungarian Kingdom in the period 1601–1681 (Historia Regni Hungariae, 1737, 1741, 1749). Kazy’s works should be interpreted in the context of both the Hungarian and European historiography of the first half of the eighteenth century. The candidate should have a good working knowledge of German or English. In addition, excellent knowledge of Latin is a must.

The aim of the dissertation is to investigate functioning of judicial practice, competence and strategies of judicial institutions in comparison with its contemporary legal norms in a more narrowly defined period of time. The doctoral candidate has the choice of researching the topic on the example of a selected region or city, or focusing on a chosen crime or group of crimes (prostitution/sexual offences, homicide/violent offences, libel, etc.), or on female or male criminality using selected archival sources in a defined time period. Criminality was perceived as a sin in the early modern period, and the relationship of legal norms to judicial practice was not absolutely binding, which contributed to the predominance of local customary law and the considerable discretionary power of judges. In analysing the chosen judicial practice, the PhD student may explore the strategies and attitudes of judges (on the basis of moral justifications for sentences, reference to specific legal or ecclesiastical norms, the nature of mitigating and aggravating circumstances, the impact of intercessions or the possibility of mitigation of punishment or pardon), the ecclesiastical treatment of sexual offences and marital conflicts, and the punishment of religious/moral offences in the early years after the adoption of the Code of Law by Joseph II (legal implementation in practice) or focus only on the criminalisation or decriminalisation of certain offences (e.g. moral/sexual offences, witchcraft and sorcery, etc.).
Prerequisite: A good knowledge of the language(s) of the chosen archival sources (usually Latin, German or Hungarian) and Slovak/Czech or English.

The aim of this dissertation is to investigate the changes in therapeutic procedures and regulations against venereal diseases with the special focus on their causes and social consequences as well as mechanisms of social exlusion and stereotypes  during the late 19th and early 20th centuries in the context of Austria-Hungary and Czechoslovakia. Case studies of selected institutions (e.g. specialised medical facilities, brothels, charity societies etc.) will form part of the dissertation. A combination of macro- and micro-level approach will be preferred. A comparison of the selected institution on the territory of today's Slovakia and similar example in another region of the Habsburg Monarchy or its successor states is welcome. In addition to archival material on selected institutions, contemporary medical, health and educational literature (including press), memoirs, correspondence and fiction would serve as important sources for analyses. The candidate is expected to have a basic overview of the political and social development of Slovakia in the period under review; in addition to knowledge of Slovak/Czech and English, the ability to work with sources in Hungarian and/or German is necessary for research into the period up to 1918.

The dissertation project focuses on examining the representation of Roma during the second half of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century in Hungary and Czechoslovakia. The research will primarily analyze the discourse produced by representatives of state authorities and political and social movements, including minority nationalist movements. The central aim of the thesis is to investigate social categorizations and stereotypical constructions related to ascribed social roles and statuses, particularly concerning the perceived civilizational and cultural level of the Roma population. Special emphasis will be placed on exploring the continuity and discontinuity of these social representations and individual themes across different state structures, regimes, and the broader context of nation-building policies. Additionally, the research will examine how dominant social representations were perceived by the Roma population and how these perceptions influenced both assimilationist and emancipatory projects initiated by Roma and non-Roma intelligentsia. The precise scope and focus of the project will be further refined during the first semester of study. The first two semesters will include an exploration of theories of nationalism and nationalist political movements in the 19th and 20th centuries, as well as engagement with theories of discourse and critical discourse analysis methodologies. Requirements: Proficiency in Slovak/Czech, Hungarian, and English (minimum B2 level); knowledge of German is considered an advantage.

The aim of the dissertation will be to investigate the public spaces of music production within selected cities of Upper Hungary. These are the so-called redoutes existing as independent public urban buildings or as part of theatre buildings. Mimicking what was originally a noble place of representation, the construction of redoutes in the 19th century became an important integrative element of local bourgeois elites alongside theatrical buildings. The Redoute built in 1793 in Pressburg will be used as a model example. In addition to concerts and balls, repeatedly organised to raise funds for the charitable activities of the associations, the space, equipped with a restaurant and a casino, was also used for meetings of the Hungarian Diet and the annual meetings of important city associations.
The concepts of politicization and socialization applied to the cultural and political function of this space, as well as tracing the multiple loyalties and ambiguous identities of the Pressburg  inhabitants, will be the initial concepts to be explored. The sources of the research should be the programmes and contemporary criticisms, the reports of the Diet sessions, the annual reports of the associations whose activities took place in the premises and, last but not least, the city official books providing information on the renting of the Redoute and its constructional modifications. During the doctoral studies, comparisons will be made with similar buildings existing in the 19th century in the territory of Upper Hungary, as well as with the current hall of the Bratislava Redoute, built between 1913 and 1919. The applicant is expected to have an interest in cultural-historical research, a basic overview of cultural life in the selected region, and the corresponding language skills: in addition to Slovak/Czech and English, the ability to read German, and, where appropriate, to speak other language(s) of the regions selected for comparison.

After the First World War, usury was rampant in Slovakia. To supress it, Anti-usury people's courts were established in 1919. This institution was not based on the authority of professional judges, but of lay judges, who were not subject to professional qualification requirements. The lay element in judiciary has a historical genesis. The main objective of this dissertation is to chart the developments, weakness, and strengths of this institution in our modern history. A model example will be the post-war Anti-usury people's courts and an approach to the mechanism of their functioning. The research of the topic requires the study of specialist historical and legal literature, contemporary press, and archival research. The ability to appreciate the broader context of economic, social, and societal issues is required. Prerequisite: knowledge of Slovak/Czech language, English (B2 minimum). Proficiency in Hungarian and German is an advantage.

The question of the German buffer zone in Slovakia in 1939-1945 is still one of the challenges of historical research on the history of Slovakia during the Second World War. The negotiations on the territorial extent of the zone and the powers of the German Wehrmacht within it are relatively well known. However, an analysis of how the agreements concerning the zone were implemented in everyday practice is largely missing. The aim of this dissertation is to examine the interaction between the German army units stationed in the zone, the local Slovak authorities, and the relationship between the soldiers and the local population, using the example of one or more (max. three) districts located in the so-called Schutzone, from the establishment of the zone until its demise at the end of the winter of 1945, and to place it in the context of the National Socialist occupation policy. The candidate should demonstrate the ability to combine approaches from military history and research on the political and organizational history of National Socialism with approaches from microhistory that examine the processes and actions of actors directly at the designated site. German language skills (at least B2) are required.

The dissertation will aim to research one of the most massive organisations in the history of Czechoslovakia after 1948, Zväzarm (Association for Cooperation with the Army). Zväzarm touched almost every citizen of the republic with its versatility and scope. The organisation's main task was to prepare the youth for the defence of the homeland. Zväzarm brought together 16 interest organisations; it covered conscription sports and technical interest activities. It was one of the organisations that mobilised the population and created the conditions for the application of leisure activities for the benefit of individuals and collectives, as well as the state and its ruling regime. At the same time, Zväzarm contributed to forming so-called socialist patriotism. PhD candidates are expected to conduct research focused on the role of Zväzarm, namely the training of conscripts and reservists for the Czechoslovak People's Army in the specific subjects needed by the army, especially aviation, motoring, radio amateurism, diving, etc. The inclusion of Zväzarm in the framework of regime organisations and the analysis of its working methods will also be the subject of research. Future PhD candidates must submit their research project focused on a selected area, a more narrowly specified sphere of the organisation in question and the mechanisms of its functioning. Preference is also given to a comparative framework of similar organisations in the socialist bloc. Applicants are expected to have a more profound interest in recent social history, history of technology and social anthropology. A preliminary orientation in military topics is also welcome. Prerequisites are proficiency in English (min. B2), Slovak/Czech and passive knowledge of another European language.