Us versus Them: The Steady Narrative of “Othering” in Historical and Contemporary Debates in Germany and the U.S.
Germany and the United States today face rising anti-Semitism and anti-Muslim sentiment as nativist politics on both sides of the Atlantic gain not only traction, but also legitimacy. From the …
Getting Over the Cold War. Why German-American Relations Need a New Narrative
According to the planners of Germany’s current year-long public diplomacy campaign, Deutschlandjahr USA, Germany and the United States are “Wunderbar Together.” Under this—some would say catchy, some would say naïve—slogan, …
Comparing the Experiences of Discrimination Faced by Jews in Early 20th Century Germany and by Muslims in Contemporary Germany
As a DAAD/AICGS Research Fellow from October to December 2018, Dr. Ufuk Topkara conducted research on a project that emerges out of the interconnected strands of intellectual inquiry: comparing the …
The U.S. and Germany Are Losing Cultural Ambassadors: Students Studying Abroad
Last month, the Institute of International Education and the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs released their Open Doors 2018 report, which assesses the role of …
The Radicalization of the Extreme Right: Charlottesville August 2017 and Chemnitz August 2018
In Germany, as in the United States, we are confronted with growing right-wing radicalism. Right-wing populists or radicals “offer” “solutions” by addressing perceived or real weaknesses or even crises in …
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The Radicalization of the Extreme Right: Charlottesville and Chemnitz
As a DAAD/AICGS Research Fellow from October to December 2018, Prof. Dr. Hajo Funke looked at the developments of two extreme-right events, in Charlottesville and Chemnitz, including the conditions of …
Migration – A Global Reality or Threat
On December 12, 164 nations ratified the United Nations-Migration Pact (or Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration) at a UN conference in Marrakesh, the very first of its …
The Dilemmas of Promoting Gender Equality in Times of Polarization
The political landscapes in both countries are characterized by increasing polarization. In the U.S., a man became president who makes a spectacle of himself through derogative language and who tends …
Bridging Troubled Waters: Civil Societies in Dark Times of Transatlantic Partnership
Much of the focus of our work (and that of our predecessors) in the AICGS NextGen project has focused on the reconciliatory role of “good” civil society in a challenging …
“Othering” Across and Beyond the Pond
During a recent discussion about the problematic state of the transatlantic relationship, someone explained that we needed to realize that important parts of the American political establishment and their voters …
How Much Can Education Serve as a Mechanism for the Integration of Minorities and Immigrants?
Experiences from Germany and the United States In both the United States and Germany education is key for the successful integration of society and an acceptance of diversity. Diversity education, …
Rainbow Politics: Comparing LGBT+ Rights in Germany and the United States
On October 1, 2017, Karl Kreile and Bodo Mende exchanged vows at the town hall in Schöneberg—the first same-sex couple married in Germany. More than two years earlier, the United …
The Radicalization of the Extreme Right
The Rallies in Charlottesville in August 2017 and Chemnitz in August 2018 In August 2017, members of multiple far-right movements rallied in Charlottesville, Virginia, with the goals of uniting the …
German and U.S. International Assistance: Closer Than You Think
In the face of strained relations, could international cooperation support reconciliation between the United States and Germany? Complementarities in approach and interests indicate yes. The United States and Germany topped …
