The science of history has changed considerably in the last few decades, and the writings of Jürgen Kocka from the past 40 years reflect these changes, from the controversial rise of social history in the 1960s to the influence of constructivist cultural history in the 1980s and the modern interest in transnationality and global history. They also document what has remained constant throughout Jürgen Kocka’s work despite the many changes: his particular interest in social history, in analytical reflection and in history as a discipline that presents critical argumentation and orientations for public discussion.