3.05 Race and Racism in Germany and Europe: History, Concepts and Current Discourses
Language of instruction: English
Course type: Subject course, A-Track
Contact hours: 48 (6 per day)
Course days: Monday & Thursday
ECTS credits: 5
Course fee: € 1,300
Can be combined with all B-Track courses
| 🌍 Critical global issues addressed in this course: Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10); Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions (SDG 16) |
Course Description
Europe and the World have been facing societal changes in the last two decades and with the rise of right-wing parties and politicians in established Western democracies, racism and discrimination becomes not only a political but a global societal concern. Specifically, the attacks in Norway in 2011, the shootings in Christchurch, NZ in 2019, the attacks in Hanau, Germany in 2020, and the police killing of George Floyd in the US show how racism and prejudices take a brutal form in society. With the killing of George Floyd, the Black Lives Matter movement and other anti-racist movements and organizations are on the path to fight this global structural phenomenon. In Germany and Europe public debates on migration, migrant and ethnic communities and religion play a big role in politics and society and the issues cited above are tried to be tackled from various actors in society.
This course will first analyze the concepts of race and racism, looking at historical and contemporary moments as well as developments of racism in society. Further, it will examine the various uses of terminology in the field and will particularly elaborate on the concept of ‘intersectionality’, studying racism and discrimination from this angle.
After gaining the theoretical lens for this course, we will engage with clear examples of different forms of racisms and discrimination such as Antisemitism, anti-Black racism, anti-Muslim racism or anti-Gypsyism. These examples will be analyzed and contextualized by looking at structural and societal problems of racism.
Finally, we will visit and hear from activists in Berlin dealing with the problem of racism and discrimination. Additionally, we will look into how governments and policy makers try to tackle racism within their own societies. Students will learn from this course the different concepts and forms of racism and will be able to apply this knowledge in future discussions by critically questioning processes and events in politics and society.