Key concept of home

The term "homeland" is on everyone's lips. Whether in public discussions, advertising, or political statements: homeland is present, but it is understood and used in various ways. However, there is no guarantee of homeland, and it can be perceived as a variable constant, becoming an experience of loss and a place of longing. In light of political developments and the media portrayal of homeland, a deeper engagement with the term is important, particularly from the perspective of regional history and cultural studies. The LVR Institute for Regional Studies and Cultural Geography has therefore addressed the enduring phenomenon of homeland in the context of a conference. With interdisciplinary contributions from cultural anthropology as well as history, linguistics, literature, social sciences, and museum studies, the concept of homeland has undergone a critical analysis. The aim of this collected volume, with reference to North Rhine-Westphalia, is to make the concept of homeland usable for modern regional studies and to engage with a clear positioning in both scientific and public networks.