The idea of "doing without" currently shapes controversial public debates and is often associated either with a rather sweeping critique of consumerism or defamed as an attempt at prohibition and a deprivation of personal liberties. The aim of this project is to provide an interdisciplinary approach to the topic by developing a systematic (re)construction of the various semantics of the notion of "doing without" and to explore possibilities of an informed dialogue among cultural studies, educational studies, and political sciences. Heike Paul is one of the project leaders of this working group.