Close the door, will you? Press that button, and let’s see where the time machine takes us this time.

1. It is 1912. We are on board a ship that has just arrived from London at Ellis Island in New York. „Next! Papers, please.“ You hand your immigration documents to a police-like officer. „Thank you. Now, all new immigrants have to fill in these tests. Let’s get to it!“ You look at the paper in front of you. As you look closely, there seems to be something wrong. Because…

2. We appear in Gorky Park on the shore of the Moskva River. Soldiers march nearby, and a boat is just passing in front of us. „That’s him!“ people around us are shouting. Who? „Klaus Meine and Bon Jovi. And next to him is… Is that him? Ozzy Osbourne! I can’t believe it.“ What?! Here? It’s the 1980s, we’re in the USSR during the Cold War—what are western punk and rock stars doing here?

How do these and other stories continue? We’ll follow the lead and let the story reveal itself before our eyes. We’ll read historical newspaper articles, listen to music, and explore how social sciences help us better understand the world around us. We’ll examine the origins of psychometry and how psychology messed up with questionnaires, how Joseph Nye changed the way we understand power in international relations, how economists measure inequality, and much more. If we dare, we might even find ways to change the current system.

This course is particularly recommended for anyone who enjoys thinking about society and its issues, wants to study social sciences but is undecided about which one to choose. We’ll touch on a bit of everything. Fans of modern history will also find plenty to enjoy. Otherwise, there are no prerequisites. We’ll introduce a basic orientation in historical context before diving into the depths of new stories and perspectives.