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Dr Hans Wallage

PhD candidate

E-mail: h.wallage@uva.nl

Area(s) of interest: Early Modern History, Migration History & Diaspora, Religious History & Theology

Cohort/Start PhD: 2018-2019

Jewish Diasporas

University of Amsterdam
Project: The Invention of the Refugee in Early Modern Europe
Promotor(es): Prof. dr. Geert Janssen
Aanstelling: vanaf februari 2019

The VICI project The Invention of the Refugee in Early Modern Europe led by Prof. dr. Geert Janssen will attempt to answer why, when, and how specific religious migrant groups labeled themselves as refugees. It will also investigate how the label of refugee influenced the creation of empathy and humanitarian help in the host countries. Three PhD students will each study one religious refugee group. Hans will focus on Jewish refugees.
To encounter the main question, Hans will separate his research into three sub-questions: 1. When, where and why did Jews start to label themselves as refugee? 2. Which transnational ties were set between different Jewish societies? 3. To what extent did Jewish refugee groups contribute to the creation of early modern state formation?
This research is relevant because it will provide further understanding of the concept of refugees and the development of negative and positive connotations in host countries.