Professor Sheldon Garon (Princeton University, Paris IAS Fellow – 2021/2022 cohort) has been awarded a European Research Council (ERC) Advanced Grant to direct a five-year collaborative project, “The Global War on Civilians, 1905-1945.” The project will be based at the Paris Institute for Advanced Study.

On April 11, 2024, the European Research Council (ERC) has announced the names of 255 outstanding research leaders in Europe set to be awarded ERC Advanced Grants. The funding is amongst the EU’s most prestigious and competitive, providing leading senior researchers with the opportunity to pursue ambitious, curiosity-driven projects that could lead to major scientific breakthroughs. The new grants, worth in total nearly €652 million, are part of the EU’s Horizon Europe programme.

Sheldon Garon’s project investigates the transnational circulation of knowledge and practices that culminated by World War II in systematic attacks on civilians, as well as the creation of home fronts that mobilized civilians against such offensives. The focus is on aerial bombardment, food blockades, and efforts to break “civilian morale.” Team members will research the cases of Japan, China, Germany, Britain, France, Italy, the Soviet Union, the Spanish Civil War, and international law.

The project will be based at the Paris Institute for Advanced Study. Indeed, in collaboration with the RFIEA Foundation, the Paris IAS has for some years been developing a proactive policy of encouraging its research fellows to prepare ERC projects. This involves helping to organize international workshops to discuss projects in preparation. Support also includes project reviews by former ERC evaluators and preparatory hearings. Following on from this support, the Paris IAS is proud to welcome Sheldon Garon and his research team as of 2025.

Congratulations Professor Garon!

Find out more about European Research Council grants