"Cultures of Vigilance" aims to research the historical and cultural foundations of vigilance. Within this context, "vigilance" refers to a linking of individual attentiveness to goals set by others. This linking occurs on an everyday basis, be it in the realm of public security, religion, law, or the healthcare sector; wherever and whenever we are asked to pay attention to something specific and, if necessary, also to react to, or report anything we have noticed in a specific way. The goal is to analyse the history, cultural variations and current forms of this phenomenon.