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Semester Classes

Foto: Miriam Prüßner

Regular Semester Classes

The International Undergraduate Study Program (IUSP) takes courses from the university's regular course catalogue. Usually, classes take place two hours per week.
Important: Each class, whether held in English or German, is being supported by tutorials (obligatory!) in English with four hours per week, especially for IUSP students. In the tutorials, students are working up the contents of the lecture, not only of the first eight weeks the IUSP participants are staying, but also the contents of the second half of the German semester. In addition, the tutors work more deeply on the topic with the students and deepen their knowledge.

The IUSP students give presentations and write essays on the topics according to the respective class and tutorial. Generally, marks are given for oral work (presentations, performance in class etc.) and written work (reports, bibliographies, homework, essays etc.).

Class Choice: We are adding classes as they come in from the professors, and will start publishing classes from December on for the Spring semester, and from July on for the Fall semester.* As soon as the list will be complete, we will notify all students, and ask for their class choice in an email. We will ask for their final decision after their arrival in Marburg. Only students with the language level B1.1 and above can enroll for classes held in German.

Note on Class Attendance
Please bear in mind that attendance is required in order to receive credit for IUSP classes. Failure to attend classes or tutorials can result in grade cuts and/or a grade not being issued to you if you do not attend classes and tutorials regularly. Absence of 15% of the class/tutorial time or more will result in failing the class. IUSP students do not have the option of simply sitting for the exam at the end of the semester without having attended classes. Health issues and other serious reasons for missing lectures are, of course, another matter. Please keep your teacher and/or the IUSP staff informed if you are unable to attend lectures.

*Please note:
Generally speaking, class descriptions are posted online later than what many colleges and universities outside of Germany are accustomed to. The reason for this lies in the differing academic calendars. The classes for the spring semester in Marburg are published in January; classes for the fall semester in Marburg are published in July. We recommend looking at classes from the previous academic year to get a feel for what classes will be offered in the corresponding semester of the current academic year. In most subject areas, similar courses are offered on a rotating basis one time each academic year. We do not offer the same classes every year/semester. Introductory-level courses, however, are generally repeated. Browsing through past catalogues can be helpful in giving you an idea of what courses may be offered and what courses may be counted towards your degree.
The descriptions in the class list are taken from our university course catalogue. 

Class List Fall 2024 

Subject Area: American Studies 

  • Prof. Dr. Carmen Birkle: Introduction to the Study of Anglophone Literatures and Cultures (Survey of English Literature) (held in English)

    Lecture, asynchronous, online

  • Prof. Dr. Carmen Birkle: Introduction to the Cultural History of North America (held in English)

    Lecture, online asynchronous

  • Prof. Dr. Carmen Birkle: Banning Books and More (held in English)

    Seminar, Tuesday 2-4 pm

    The fact that in 2022 alone, the American Library Association recorded a “record number of demands to censor library books and materials,” namely 1,269, shows that people have always feared the influence of published material – whether fiction or non-fiction. The good side is that fiction seems to be strongly influential; the bad side is that people try to ban books as soon as they consider them contradictory to their own beliefs; and these beliefs are myriad. In most cases, people feel attacked, criticized, and questioned in their ethics, which include ideas about sexuality, ethnicity / race, religion, and more. By banning books from library shelves across the country, U.S. parents in particular claim to protect their children from knowledge that might be painful, destroy their self-image, or make them wonder about their position in life. The alleged arguments for banning material frequently are sexual, ethnic / racial, and religious in nature, and express that these books would undermine social stability, family values, and power structures. People take offence by explicit language, depictions of sexual encounters, racial / ethnic criticism of systemic (and other forms of (racism), feminist accusations of sexism and sexual abuse. Questions to be discussed among others will be: Why does the U.S. have such a long history of book banning (since the seventeenth century)? Who are the people who demand the bans? What types of bans? In which way do the banning and sometimes burning of books tell us something about some people’s attitudes toward equality, freedom of speech, and the U.S. proclamation of the rights to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”? What are some of the historical contexts in which books have been increasingly banned (such as, for example, slavery, women’s rights movement, Germany and World War I, LGBTQIA+ emancipation, etc.). Last, but not least, we will also discuss whether writers’ books should be read and discussed in an academic setting if those writers are accused of, for example, anti-Semitism, as in Alice Walker’s case, or of sexual harassment, as in Sherman Alexie’s case. We will discuss the politics of literature and its cultural and socio-political contexts in conjunction with a close analysis of the reading material.

    Literature:

    Chopin, Kate. The Awakening (1899).
    Cisneros, Sandra. The House on Mango Street (1984). (excerpts)
    Gilman, Charlotte Perkins. “The Yellow Wallpaper” (1892).
    Gorman, Amanda. “The Hill We Climb” (2021).
    Hosseini, Khaled. The Kite Runner (2003).
    Kobabe, Maia. Gender Queer: A Memoir (2019).
    Lee, Harper. To Kill a Mockingbird (1960).
    Mark Twain. Huckleberry Finn (1884).

    Excerpts from Cisneros, Gilman’s short story, and Gorman’s poem will be available on ILIAS by the beginning of the semester. Please make sure you have procured all reading material in whichever edition by the beginning of the semester.

  • Prof. Dr. Carmen Birkle: Campus Fiction and Film (held in English)

    Seminar, Tuesday 4-6 pm

    Education is a key factor in everyone’s life. Both high schools and colleges and / or universities are institutions of (higher) learning that offer, for many, opportunities for acquiring knowledge, values, and insights, which in turn contribute to identity formation, expansion of talents, and job opportunities. Education has always been different in different cultures and nations but has always been considered essential for a human being’s success in life. Based on the seminar participants’ personal experiences with education in different ethnic, gender, and national contexts, we will move on to read a sample of fiction that focuses on U.S.-American campus and college life. We will discuss White women’s and Jewish and Black American men’s perspectives and look at both students’ and teachers’ points of view. Proceeding chronologically, beginning with the film Mona Lisa Smile (2003), set in the 1950s, and ending with Echo Brown’s The Chosen One (2022), the seminar offers insights into the representation of educational experiences from the 1950s to the 2020s in the United States. Questions to be addressed, among others, will be: How does the choice of narrative perspective shape our readings of the texts? How is characters formation represented? How do teachers and students deal with different forms of discrimination, such as sexism and racism? What are some of the key concerns students and teachers have to deal with? What types of students and teachers do we encounter? In which way do students reflect on their future? Ultimately, in how far is reading these texts relevant for each one of us?  

    Literature:
    Brown, Echo. The Chosen One: A First-Generation Ivy League Odyssey. 2022.
    Cohen, Joshua. The Netanyahus: An Account of Minor and Ultimately Even Negligible Episode in the History of a Very Famous Family. 2021.
    Ellison, Ralph. Invisible Man. 1952. (excerpts to be available on ILIAS by the beginning of the semester).
    Hustvedt, Siri. The Blindfold. 1992.
    Roth, Philip. The Human Stain. 2000.
    Sarton, May. The Small Room. 1961.
    Please make sure you have procured all reading material in whichever edition by the beginning of the semester. Any edition. 

  • Dr. Juliane Gamböck-Strätz: The American Laborer: The Working Class in American Fiction (held in English)

    Seminar, Wednesday 12-2 pm

    This seminar provides an introduction to the literary depiction of the American laborer. To do so, we will read literature by and about the working class. In doing so, we will examine how literary texts (among them novels, short stories, plays, films, etc.) respond to common generalizations and stereotypes as well as to the realities of the working class in the United States. Further, we will identity recurring themes and analyze how they relate to, interact, and intersect with issues like family, gender, race, and politics, and how these discussions evolve over time.  

    Literature:
    Among the texts that we will read will be the following: 
    - H.H. Robinson Loom and Spindle
    - Walt Whitman "I Sing the Body Electric" and "Song of Myself" 
    - Herman Melville "Bartleby, The Scrivener"
    - Edward Bellamy Looking Backward: 2000-1887
    - Upton Sinclair The Jungle  
    - Michael Gold Jews Without Money 

  • Dr. Juliane Gamböck-Strätz: Introduction to Gender Theory (held in English)

    Seminar, Thursday 10 am-12 pm

    This course provides an introduction to gender theories. Its aim is to familiarize students with influential theories and debates within the interdisciplinary field of gender studies. In doing so, we will explore how gender is constructed, performed, disrupted, and dissolved, and we will question how gender intersects with other aspects of identity and social, cultural, and political categories, such as sex, race, class, sexuality, ability, etc.  
    By reading key theoretical texts, learning about key concepts, and exploring them alongside primary material, students will learn to think critically and engage sensitively in debates relating to gender.

    Students will learn how to read, comprehend, and analyze theoretical concepts and texts. To further our understanding of theory, we will apply the concepts we have learned about to selected primary material (novels, short stories, films, etc.). 

Subject Area: Business Administration and Economics

  • Prof. Dr. Torsten Wulf: Strategic Problemsolving and Communication (held in English)

    Lecture, Thursday 8-10 am / 10 am-12 pm

    Content: Link to Course Homepage

  • Dr. Sven Fischer: Introduction to the Economies of the Middle East (held in English)

    Lecture, Tuesday 2-4 pm

    Contents

    This course is intended as an introduction to basic economic systems and concepts followed by a comprehensive overview of the economies of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The goal is to provide students with a solid basis and understanding of the economies of the region and equip them to analyze these in an objective and critical manner.

    Topics and intended skills

    Introduce the basic economic concepts and systems that are found in the region.
    Provide an in-depth analysis of representative economies of the region.
    Encourage critical thinking and objective analysis for “MENA Economics”-related topics to expand horizons and encourage/motivate topics for further research.


    Further information on graded assignments

    100% of the grade depends on your performance in the final exam.

    Further information on ungraded assignments

    Depending on your examination regulation, you might also need to give a presentation in class during the semester.

    Intended skills (competencies)

    The course is designed to equip students with the necessary tools that would allow them to think and analyze the economies and economic problems witnessed in the MENA region in a systematic theory based approach.
    After attending the course, participants should be able to make educated comments on ongoing economic discussions in the region.

  • Prof. Dr. Bernhard Nietert: Entscheidung, Finanzierung und Investition (held in German)

    Lecture, Monday 4-6 pm

    Content: Link to Course Homepage

  • Prof. Dr. Sascha Mölls: Corporate Governance & Sustainability - Cases & Methods  (held in English)

    Seminar, time tbd

    Companies today are expected not only to maximize their value and provide relevant financial information about the ongoing business but are also presumed to engage in environmental and social activities as an integral part of their management process. Such activities are typically made transparent towards stakeholders through “corporate social responsibility” (CSR)-reporting using guidelines introduced by the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). Such additional reporting has not only gotten increasing attention in shareholder-oriented ‘exit’ systems of corporate governance but in particular in bank-based insider systems prevalent in continental Europe and Asia. The relationship between corporate governance-frameworks and CSR is complex and ambiguous. CSR is associated with potential benefits for the company, that, however, are long-term and uncertain. Thus, whether the costs associated with CSR outweigh its benefits crucially depends on the time horizonas well as on the effects of certain governance mechanisms (= firm characteristics) on the success of firms. In this course, we start with a thorough introduction into the fundamentals of corporate governance (as an economic interpretation of corporate law focusing on organizational and strategic features as well as financial aspects) and go on with reviewing existing empirical evidence regarding the relevance of firm-specific corporate governance attributes for the decision-making about CSR activities and reporting. Participants further apply the gained conceptual knowledge by working on case studies comparing the practice of CSR-reporting in large listed companies from different countries. Finally, the empirical base allows for a detailed discussion of insights as well as implications.

    Exam:  Presentations during the semester + essay 

Subject Area: English Studies 

  • Dr. Evelyn Koch: George Eliot, Middlemarch (held in English)

    Seminar, Monday 2-4 pm

    George Eliot is the pen name of Mary Ann Evans (1819-1880) and her novel Middlemarch (1871/72), set shortly before the Reform Bill of 1832, is a kaleidoscope of British society and an outstanding example of the 19th-century realist novel. This seminar will provide an overview of 19th-century literature and culture in Britain via Middlemarch. Students will each introduce a topic – such as literary realism, the emancipation of suffrage, science and medicine, gender roles, ideas of marriage and education etc. – and lead the discussion of that topic in relation to the novel. We will also discuss the 1994 BBC TV series adapted by Andrew Davies.

    Books to be obtained:
    George Eliot. Middlemarch (Oxford World’s Classics, Penguin Classics edition or Norton edition)
    Other texts will be provided on ILIAS.

Subject Area: German Studies 

  • Prof. Dr. Hania Siebenpfeiffer: Literarische Utopien (held in German)

    Seminar, Tuesday 12-2 pm

    Der vor gut 500 Jahren erschienene Roman Utopia des englischen Gelehrten Thomas Morus bildet die Vorlage für eine neuartige Form literarisch-politischen Schrifttums: die Utopie. Bis heute tragen an fernen Orten oder in künftigen Zeiten angesiedelte, idealische Gesellschaftsentwürfe die Utopie als Genrebezeichnung. Und obwohl es momentan so scheint, als habe vor allem die dystopische Nah-Zukunft literarisch Konjunktur, ist die Frage nach der Utopie als literarischer Text- und Reflexionsform vor dem Hintergrund multipler Krisen aktueller denn je. Im Seminar werden wir neben den frühneuzeitlichen Gründungstexten der literarischen Utopie (Morus, Campanella, Bacon, Andreae) vor allem neuere utopisch-literarische Imaginationen diskutieren. Ein Schwerpunkt soll hierbei auf literarischen Utopien von Autorinnen liegen (u.a. Frölichs Virginia oder die Kolonie in Kentucky, Gilmans Herland; Le Guins The Left Hand of Darkness, Piercys He, She, and It, Enzensbergers Auf See). Texte und Arbeitsformen werden in der ersten Sitzung genauer besprochen.

    Literatur:
    Zur Vorbereitung: Theresia Enzensberger: Auf See. Roman. München 2024 (ISBN-13 978-3-423-14895-5).

  • Prof. Dr. Hania Siebenpfeiffer: Jenseits des Menschen (held in German)

    Blockseminar, December 6+7: 10 am-6 pm

    Seit den 1950er Jahren entwerfen Romane, Filme und Serien mal utopische, mal dystopische Zukunftsvisionen einer optimierten bzw. überwundenen Menschheit. Gleichzeitig reflektieren und kritisieren Kulturwissenschaftler:innen tradierte kulturelle und religiöse Vorstellungen vom Menschen als privilegierter Spezies. Durch Bioengineering, Genomchirugie, avancierte Prothetik und Artificial Intelligence hat die Frage, wer oder was ›der Mensch‹ sei und ob seine begrenzten körperlichen und/oder mentalen Fähigkeiten akzeptiert, optimiert oder gar überwunden werden sollten, seit den 1990er Jahren eine neue Brisanz erhalten. Anhand von fünf Themenfeldern (1) Geschlecht/Körper, (2) Cyborg/Chimäre, (3) Anthropozän, (4) Materie/Bewusstsein und (5) Künstliche Intelligenz wollen wir in unserem interdisziplinären Kompaktseminar die literarische, filmische und theoretische Auseinandersetzung erschließen und kritisch diskutieren.

    Im Mittelpunkt stehen literarische Werke, die in einen theoretischen Diskussionszusammenhang eingebettet werden. Das Seminar findet als Kooperationsveranstaltung mit der Empirischen Kulturwissenschaft statt. Texte und Arbeitsformen werden in der Auftaktsitzung am 23.10.2024 (10–12 Uhr) genauer besprochen.

    Seminartermine:
    Mi 23.10.2024 (10–12 Uhr): Auftaktsitzung (die Teilnahme ist für den Besuch der LV obligatorisch)
    Fr/Sa 6./7.12.2024 (10–18 Uhr): Kompaktphase

    Literatur:
    Zur Vorbereitung: Janina Loh: Trans- und Posthumanismus. Zur Einführung. 4. Aufl. Hamburg 2023 (ISBN 978-3-88506-808-2).

  • Prof. Dr. Volker Mergenthaler: Die sogenannte Neue Sachlichkeit, ihre Literatur und ihre Printmedien (held in German)

    Lecture, Thursday 8:30-10 am

    In der Regel nähert sich die Literaturwissenschaft der zwischen den beiden Weltkriegen virulenten Strömung der Neuen Sachlichkeit über die ihr zugeordneten Autorinnen und Autoren und deren Buchveröffentlichungen, vorzugsweise Romane. Man liest Hans Falladas „Kleiner Mann, was nun“, Marieluise Fleißers „Mehlreisende Frieda Geier“, Erich Kästners „Fabian“, Irmgard Keuns „Das kunstseidene Mädchen“, Egon Erwin Kischs „Der rasende Reporter“, Erich Maria Remarques „Im Westen nichts Neues“, Joseph Roths „Hotel Savoy“, Gabriele Tergits „Käsebier erobert den Kurfürstendamm“ u.a. Was liegt näher? Die Vorlesung schlägt einen anderen Zugang vor, geht von der alltäglichen Medienrealität der 1920er und frühen -30er Jahre aus und sucht die ästhetischen Koordinaten der Neuen Sachlichkeit in den Feuilletons der Tageszeitungen, in deren literarischen Beilagen, in Modezeitschriften, Kulturmagazinen, in der Reklame und im Kino, im Zirkus und im Varieté, vor den Schaufenstern und in den Warenhäusern zu vermessen.

  • Prof. Dr. Volker Mergenthaler / Prof. Dr. Olaf Müller: Napoleongeschichten – histoires napoléoniennes? (held in German)

    Seminar, Wednesday 10 am-12 pm

    In der ersten Hälfte des 19. Jahrhunderts finden sich nur wenige literarische Texte, in denen Napoleon Bonaparte nicht in irgendeiner Form Spuren hinterlassen hat: als historische Person, als literarische Figur oder durch seinen Zensurapparat. Diesem Sachverhalt möchte das Seminar anhand exemplarischer Fallstudien – deutschen und französischen – nachspüren. Vorgesehen ist die Lektüre, Analyse und Interpretation ausgewählter literarischer Texte (aller Voraussicht nach von Pierre-Jean de Bérenger, Adelbert von Chamisso, Friedrich Baron de la Motte Fouqué, H. Clauren, Charles Nodier, Heinrich von Kleist u.a.), ihrer Publikationsmedien, ihrer historischen und kulturgeschichtlichen Kontexte. Ziel des Seminars ist es, (1) die Einbindung der Produktion und Rezeption literarischer Texte in politische Gegenwart und in den Prozeß der Historiographie zu erkennen, (2) den Stellenwert medialer Formate erkennen, beschreiben und interpretieren zu lernen (3), Literatur als bedingtes Element in komplexeren Aussageordnungen zu begreifen, (4) das ästhetische Potential einer facettenreichen geschichtlichen Persönlichkeit zu vermessen, (5) literarische, kulturelle, mediale Austauschprozesse zwischen Frankreich und dem deutschsprachigen Raum nachzuzeichnen und so ein Verständnis der deutsch-französischen Kulturgeschichte dieser Zeit zu entwickeln. Französischkenntnisse sind willkommen, für eine erfolgreiche Seminarteilnahme germanistischer Studierender aber nicht erforderlich.

  • Prof. Dr. Volker Mergenthaler / Prof. Dr. Jens Ruchatz: Es muss Liebe sein (Literatur, Film, TV, social media u.a.) (held in German)

    Seminar, Tuesday 4-6 pm

    Liebe. So bekannt auch das Gefühl, welches durch dieses Wort bezeichnet wird, so ist es doch […] nicht ganz leicht, seinen Begriff scharf zu umgrenzen. Das Charakteristische für die Liebe ist jedenfalls“, so müht sich 1853 redlich Brockhaus’ Real-Encyklopädie für die gebildeten Stände allen ausgemachten Schwierigkeiten zum Trotz, „daß das Gemüth des Liebenden an einen bestimmten Gegenstand dergestalt gefesselt und gebunden ist, daß der Verlust des letztern schmerzlich empfunden werden würde, also die Anhänglichkeit; und diese kommt beinahe überall vor, wo ein geistiges Leben sich regt“ (586). Liebe strebt einerseits zur Mitteilung (in der Erklärung, im Geständnis, im Gestammel, in der Geste) und greift, um zum Ausdruck und zur Verwirklichung zu kommen, nach allen verfügbaren Medien, und sie ist andererseits, wie das lexikographische Scheitern sichtbar macht, nicht auf den Begriff zu bringen. Diese beiden Komponenten der Liebe – ihre Allianz mit Medien und ihre Unbegrifflichkeit – wollen wir im Seminar genauer beleuchten. Wir werden daher prominente theoretische Bestimmungsversuche der Liebe diskutieren (Barthes, Illouz, Luhmann) und mediale Realisierungen (literarische Texte, Popsongs, Filme, social media) in den Blick nehmen und einerseits zu erarbeiten versuchen, welchen Beitrag sie zur Realisation von Liebe leisten, andererseits untersuchen, was ihre Vermittlungsarbeit über Leistungsvermögen und Gesetzmäßigkeiten des jeweiligen Mediums herausbringt.

Subject Area: History 

  • Prof Dr. Christian Kleinschmidt: Europa im Zeitalter der Industrialisierung (1780-1914) (held in German)

    Lecture, Wednesday 10 am-12 pm

    Im Mittelpunkt der Überblicksvorlesung steht der Prozess der Industrialisierung im „langen“ 19. Jahrhundert in Deutschland und Europa. Dieser wird vor allem an Beispielen der regionalen und nationalen Entwicklung dargestellt. In vergleichender Perspektive sollen auch die Parallelentwicklungen in ausgewählten europäischen Staaten und Aspekte der internationalen wirtschaftlichen Verflechtung Berücksichtigung finden. Fragen der wirtschaftlichen, technischen und unternehmerischen Entwicklung werden ebenso thematisiert wie die Veränderungen im Agrarbereich. Darüber hinaus wird nach den Voraussetzungen (z.B. Preußische Reformen, Rolle des Staates, demographische und Infrastrukturentwicklung) und den Folgen des Industrialisierungsprozesses (Urbanisierung, Soziale Frage, staatliche Sozialpolitik) gefragt. Schließlich werden unterschiedliche methodische und theoretische Konzepte der Industrialisierung vorgestellt.

    Literatur:
    Stephen Broadberry and Kevin O‘Rourke: The Cambridge Economic History of Modern Europe, Vol. 1: 1700-1870, Vol 2: 1870 to the Present, Cambridge etc. 2010; Jan Luiten van Zanden: The Long Road to the Industrial Revolution. The European Economy in a Global Perspective, 1000-1800, Leiden, Boston 2012; Robert C. Allen: The British Industrial Revolution in Global Perspective, Cambridge 2009; Christoph Buchheim: Einführung in die Wirtschaftsgeschichte, München 1997; Felix Butschek, Europa und die Industrielle Revolution, Wien 2002; Hans-Werner Hahn: Die Industrielle Revolution in Deutschland, München 1998; Handbuch der europäischen Wirtschafts- und Sozialgeschichte Bd. 5, Von der Mitte des 19. Jh. bis zum Ersten Weltkrieg, Stuttgart 1985; Hubert Kiesewetter: Region und Industrie in Europa 1815-1995, Stuttgart 2000; David S. Landes: Der entfesselte Prometheus, München 1983; David S. Landes, Wohlstand und Armut der Nationen, Berlin 1998; Toni Pierenkemper: Umstrittene Revolutionen. Die Industrialisierung im 19. Jahrhundert, Frankfurt 1996; Richard J. Evans: Das europäische Jahrhundert. Ein Kontinent im Umbruch 1815-1914, München 2018; Jürgen Reulecke: Geschichte der Urbanisierung in Deutschland. Frankfurt a. M. 1985; Clemens Wischermann/Anne Nieberding: Die institutionelle Revolution. Stuttgart 2004; Joel Mokyr: The Gifts of Athena. Historical Origins of the Knowledge Economy. Princeton 2002; Peer Vries: Escaping Poverty. The Origins of Modern Economic Growth. Göttingen 2013; Epstein, S. R./Praak, Marten (Hg.): Guilds, Innovation, and the European Economy, 1400-1800. Cambridge 2008; Weigl, Andreas: Bevölkerungsgeschichte Europas. Von den Anfängen bis in die Gegenwart. Wien 2012.

  • Prof. Dr. Christian Kleinschmidt: Kämpfe um die Moderne (held in German)

    Seminar, Thursday 2-4 pm

    Die Begriffe „Moderne“ und „Modernisierung“ gehören zu unserer Alltagssprache und sind dementsprechend omnipräsent und zugleich uneindeutig und umstritten. Waren „Moderne“ und „Modernisierung“ nach dem Zweiten Weltkrieg noch Ausdruck westlichen Fortschrittsdenkens, so gerieten die Begriffe und mit ihnen bisweilen auch die damit verbundenen weltanschaulichen, politischen, ökonomischen und kulturellen Entwicklungen zunehmend in die Kritik, da sie nicht selten für ungehemmte Ökonomisierung und Globalisierung, für kulturelle Dekadenz und Verfall sowie politischen Niedergang der Demokratie und der Liberalisierung stehen. Der „Kampf um die Moderne“ reicht jedoch bis weit ins 19. Jahrhundert zurück, betrifft die Entwicklung und Folgen der Industrialisierung, der Bevölkerungs- und Familienentwicklung, der Migration ebenso wie die politische und soziale Spaltung der Gesellschaft sowie divergierende kulturelle und religiöse Ausrichtungen.  Diese Entwicklungen sollen exemplarisch für das 19. und 20. Jahrhundert analysiert und Konfliktmuster und -kategorien im Untersuchungszeitraum herausgearbeitet werden.

    Literatur:
    Henrich, Joseph: Die seltsamsten Menschen der Welt. Wie der Westen reichlich sonderbar und besonders reich wurde, Berlin 2022; Kocka, Jürgen: Kampf um die Moderne. Das lange 19. Jahrhundert in Deutschland, Stuttgart 2021; Kroll, Frank-Lothar: Geburt der Moderne. Politik, Gesellschaft und Kultur vor dem Ersten Weltkrieg, Berlin 2013; Nitschke, August u.a. (Hg.): Der Aufbruch in die Moderne 1880-1930, 2 Bde., Reinbek 1990; Ott, Karl-Heinz: Verfluchte Neuzeit. Eine Geschichte des reaktionären Denkens, München 2022; Van der Loo, Hans und Willem van Reijen: Modernisierung. Projekt und Paradox, München, 2. Aufl. 1997.

  • Prof. Dr. Benedikt Stuchtey: Alltagsobjekte und der europäische Kolonialismus, 1850-1950 (held in German)

    Seminar, Tuesday 10 am-12 pm

    Im Mittelpunkt des Hauptseminars stehen alltägliche Objekte wie zum Beispiel eine Teetasse, Sammelkarten, Briefmarken, Reiseführer und ein Stück Seife, die jeweils auf spezifische Aspekte des europäischen Kolonialismus und Imperialismus verweisen, so etwa Rassismus, Exotismus, Orientalismus und Freihandel. Anhand der Objekte und der von ihnen gebündelten Bedeutungsinhalte sollen zentrale Aspekte der Geschichte der kolonialen Expansion aufgeworfen werden. Viele der untersuchten Objekte bzw. Dinge spiegeln die Vorstellungswelten ihrer europäischen Konsumenten von der nicht-europäischen Welt wider, aber wie bewusst war man sich der Geschichte der Sklaverei zum Beispiel beim Trinken von Tee, Kakao und Kaffee?

    Literatur:
    Remo Bodei, Das Leben der Dinge. Aus dem Italienischen von Daniel Creutz, Berlin 2020; Tim Barringer und Tom Flynn, Colonialism and the Object: Empire, Material Culture and the Museum, London 1998.

  • Prof. Dr. Benedikt Stuchtey: London and the British Empire, 1780-1920 (held in English)

    Seminar online, Monday 2-4 pm

    Das Hauptseminar in englischer Sprache widmet sich dem britischen Imperialismus zwischen 1770 und 1930 und schenkt der Metropole London besondere Aufmerksamkeit. Wie lassen sich im Spannungsfeld zwischen "Zentrum" und Kolonien die Bedeutung von City (Finanzkapital), Colonial Office (Verwaltung), Wissenschaft, Kultur, Parlament, Medien und Monarchie, um nur diese Beispiele zu nennen, erfassen, wie die globale Verflechtung der imperialen Dynamiken nachvollziehen? Mit dem Empire und seiner "first city" als Hintergrundfolie sollen nicht zuletzt grundsätzliche theoretische Konzepte in der Erforschung des Imperialismus diskutiert werden.

    Literatur:
    Benedikt Stuchtey, Geschichte des Britischen Empire, München 2021; John Darwin, The Empire Project: The Rise and Fall of the British World-System, 1830-1970, Cambridge 2009.

  • Dr. Evelyn Koch: George Eliot, Middlemarch (held in English)

    Seminar, Monday 2-4 pm

    If you are generally interested in Great Britain's history and culture in the 19th century, this seminar from the English studies department might be interesting for you. 

Subject Area: Informatics & Mathematics

Subject Area: Linguistics

  • Prof. Dr. Rolf Kreyer: Discourse Analysis (held in English)

    Blockseminar, Thursday 8 am-12 pm

    Discourse Analysis explores language use beyond the sentence level, such as classroom interaction, chats among friends, discussions on TV, newspaper articles and much much more. This seminar will take a look at how these phenomena can be described and it will also take a look at critical discourse analysis, a research field that looks at discourses as a form of societal practice: the way we talk about the world around us shapes the way we think about the world around us and the way in which we act in this world – all of which feeds back into how we talk about the world around us.

Subject Area: Media Studies

  • Prof. Dr. Josh Carney / Dr. Pierre Hecker: Mediating the National Past: Nostalgia and NeoOttomanism in Turkey (held in English)

    Seminar, Thursday 2-4 pm

    This undergraduate seminar examines the complex relationship between media and the past with a focus on the distant past of the Turkish nation. We first examine the relationship between media and nationalism and then turn to thinkers who explore the relationship between media and the past, both in terms of how TV, film, and other media retell official history, and in terms of how they reshape our memories or even forge anew memories of a past never experienced first-hand. In Turkey, two particular social currents—nostalgia and neoOttomanism—are often implicated in mediation of the past, and we examine each of these in turn, asking how nationalist and other movements relate to these intertwined currents. In addition to written texts, we will screen a number of films, TV shows, and propaganda videos in line with these social currents. 

  • Prof. Dr. Josh Carney: Paratextual Production for Publics and Platforms (held in English)

    Seminar, Wednesday 10 am-12 pm

    The goal of this course is to foster student awareness of publics and strategies for reaching those publics through production of an online zine, a podcast, or a combination of both. The course has both a theoretical component that explores literature on media paratexts and on publics, and a practical component, in which students form groups to create a zine or podcast on media related topics of their own choice.

  • Nilgün Yelpaze: A Practical Guide to Video Activism (held in English)

    Seminar, Thursday 12-2 pm

    A Practical Guide to Video Activism  From the video record of police beating up Rodney King in 1991 to the media activism during Arab Spring, citizen journalism and video activism became key concepts in documenting and archiving violence and seeking for justice. Beyond protest journalism, everyday people have become subjects of recording and posting videos in order to spread their otherwise overlooked narratives.

    The objective of this course is to present the basics of filming, sound recording, and editing for the purpose of creating short videos that fall under the category of video activism. Students will be introduced to the history of video-activism, significant case studies with an emphasis on the Middle East and the discussions on the connection between video-making and social justice, positionality and framing.

    It is expected of every student or student group to create 2-3 minutes of video about a social issue that is relevant in Germany in today's world (for example: climate justice).

    Bringing your own device that can record video and audio (smartphones) could be very useful.

Subject Area: Peace and Conflict Studies

  • Dr. Ariadna Petri: (Post)Soviet (Post)Colonialism (held in English)

    Seminar online, time tbd

    This advanced seminar delves into the multifaceted dynamics of (post)colonialism within the expansive sphere of Russian influence, exploring the historical, cultural, and geopolitical dimensions of interactions between Russia and its neighboring regions. From the imperial era to the contemporary geopolitical landscape, this course critically examines the impact of Russian influence on various territories, addressing the complex interplay of power, identity, and resistance.

    The course starts by tracing the historical trajectory from the Tsarist Empire to the contemporary geopolitical landscape, the course critically examines the enduring legacies of Russian expansion and colonization. Emphasis is placed on the cultural hybridity and identity negotiations that have emerged from the interactions between Russian and local cultures. Through the exploration of literature, art, and language, students will analyze the multifaceted expressions of identity within the postcolonial context. Geopolitical implications are assessed, unraveling the power dynamics at play in post-Soviet spaces and their impact on international relations. The course also investigates resistance and agency, showcasing narratives of local communities that have navigated the complexities of imperial and colonial legacies. Contemporary challenges arising from Russia's ongoing influence, including border disputes and regional autonomy, are scrutinized to provide a comprehensive understanding of the (post)colonial intricacies within the Russian sphere of influence.

    By engaging with diverse primary and secondary sources, students will cultivate critical thinking skills and develop a nuanced perspective on the historical and contemporary issues surrounding (post)colonialism in the Russian sphere of influence. This seminar encourages an in-depth exploration of the intersections between power, identity, and resistance, fostering a deeper appreciation for the complexities inherent in the historical and cultural relationships between Russia and its neighboring regions.

    Key Topics Covered:

    1. **Historical Foundations:**

       - Investigate the historical roots of Russian expansion and colonization, spanning from the Tsarist Empire to the Soviet era.

       - Analyze the legacies of imperial policies and their enduring effects on the cultures and societies within the Russian sphere of influence.

    2. **Cultural Hybridity and Identity Formation:**

       - Explore the process of cultural hybridity and identity formation resulting from interactions between Russian and local cultures.

       - Examine literature, art, and language as mediums through which identities are negotiated and expressed in postcolonial contexts.

    3. **Geopolitical Implications:**

       - Assess the geopolitical consequences of Russian influence on neighboring states and regions.

       - Investigate the power dynamics at play in post-Soviet spaces and the ongoing impact on international relations.

    4. **Post-Soviet Transformations:**

       - Examine the complexities of post-Soviet transformations in territories that were once part of the Soviet Union, focusing on political, economic, and social changes.

       - Analyze case studies that highlight the diverse trajectories of these regions in the aftermath of decolonization.

    5. **Resistance and Agency:**

       - Explore narratives of resistance and agency within the Russian sphere of influence, considering the ways in which local communities have responded to imperial and colonial legacies.

       - Investigate the role of grassroots movements, activism, and cultural expressions in shaping postcolonial narratives.

    6. **Contemporary Challenges:**

       - Assess contemporary challenges and tensions arising from Russia's ongoing influence, including issues related to border disputes, minority rights, and regional autonomy.

       - Consider the implications of (post)colonial dynamics in the context of current geopolitical events.

    By engaging with a diverse range of primary and secondary sources, students will develop a nuanced understanding of the (post)colonial complexities within the Russian sphere of influence. This course encourages critical thinking, research skills, and the ability to analyze historical and contemporary issues in a global context.

  • Dr. Ariadna Petri: Multitrack diplomacy (held in English)                              

    Seminar online, time tbd

    This course is designed to provide conceptual and experiential perspectives on the variety of ways to bring about conflict resolution, mitigation, transformation and peace building on multiple levels, ranging from personal through community and organizational, to international. Such levels, often termed “tracks”, encompass official “first track” diplomacy and a spectrum of unofficial initiatives by civil society organization (CSO) and grassroots leaders and activists. Such activities are essential complements to formal conflict resolution activities, especially for complex societal conflicts involving non-state actors.

    Multi-track diplomacy has become an increasingly important tool for diplomats, government, UN and regional international organization (IO) agencies and CSO staff working in development, relief, refugee and humanitarian aid, peacekeeping and other activities in areas of conflict and political instability. Almost all violent conflicts are now at least primarily internal rather than inter-state, with at least one party a non-state community, and no mutually acceptable official structure through which disputes can be settled. In the context of mistrust and uncertainty, the sustainability not only of peacemaking efforts, but also of development, aid or humanitarian programs often depends on how communities, organizations or opinion leaders are empowered to find common ground on implementation of planned initiatives. Trust building, skills building – in areas such as nonviolent communication, prejudice reduction and integrative problem solving – along with consensus building and action planning methodologies may become essential elements for success.

    The Seminar will introduce participants to concepts, theoretical issues and techniques in the field of multi-track diplomacy, as tools for peacebuilding. This course has a strong practical focus, implemented through classroom discussions, student presentations and in-class small group projects. Students, in groups, pick a conflict from around the world, to which they will be applying the concepts discussed in class. This group work will be presented and discussed in class. These, along with regular academic discussions based on scholarly publications are the launch pad for conversations with guest speakers with abundant experience in different aspects of Multitrack activities, including ambassadors, informal mediators and CSO and grassroots leaders. The final activity of the course is staging a Multitrack diplomatic exercise.

  • Dr. Ariadna Petri: Israeli-Palestinian Critical dialogues (held in English)

    Seminar online, Tutorial in person, time tbd

    This course offers an introduction to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, one of the most popular and protracted at global level. We will first explore the histories, geographies, economies, demographics, and identity formation of the sides, to get a sense of the major arguments, narratives and perceptions.

    Once the framework of analysis is set, we will examine the “Peace Process”, the conditions, missed opportunities, and what improvements could stimulate different kinds of resolutions to the conflict.

    A range of genres and modes of expression are incorporated into this course, besides academic works, including cinema, art, literature, and music. This course has a strong practical focus, implemented through classroom discussions, and student presentations.

  • Dr. Ariadna Petri: Peace in Europe and Beyond (held in English)

    Seminar online, time tbd

    This course explores the concept of peace within Europe and extends the discussion to global contexts. The focus is on understanding peace as a multifaceted and dynamic process influenced by historical, cultural, political, and socio-economic factors. What ailments of the contemporary world cause pain, suffering and conflict? What alternatives to Western Conflict resolution do subaltern cultures offer? The course examines various peace theories, peacebuilding practices, and peace operations beyond Europe, highlighting case studies from different regions of the world.

Subject Area: Political Science

  • Prof. Dr. Julia Schulte-Cloos: Einführung in das politische System Deutschlands (held in German)

    Lecture, Thursday 12-2 pm

    Diese Vorlesung führt Studierende in das politische System Deutschlands ein. Hierzu zeichnet sie die politische Entscheidungsfindung vor dem Hintergrund der wichtigsten politischen Akteure und des institutionellen Rahmens nach, in welchem sich diese Akteure bewegen. Dieser Rahmen findet sich auf Bundes- und Landesebene genauso wieder wie auf europäischer und kommunaler Ebene. Wir untersuchen nicht nur die wesentlichen Merkmale der repräsentativen parlamentarischen Demokratie in Deutschland, sondern analysieren auch den Wandel in der politischen Entscheidungsfindung und Willensbildung im Kontext der Globalisierung und Europäisierung.

  • Victoria Palchikova: Introduction to the Political System of Germany (held in English)

    Seminar, Thursday 2-4 pm

  • Dr. Mariel Reiss: Human Rights in a globalized world (held in English)

    Seminar, Monday 2-4 pm

    This seminar offers a general introduction to human rights in a globalized world, as well as an overview of some specific topics in this field. It focuses on human rights history, principles, instruments and institutions, and provides an overview of current issues and debates. In particular, it zooms in on some of the following fields: rights of women, rights of the child, modern day slavery, sexual minorities as well as human rights regimes and the prosecution of human rights abuses. The seminar also explores the role of social movements and advocacy groups in promoting human rights. 

    The following topics shall be discussed in more detail: Universal Declaration of Human Rights, history and development of human rights, different generations of human rights, human rights violations, instruments and institutions of human rights, norms and organizations, protecting human rights, criticism of human rights.

  • Dr. Mariel Reiss: Worldwide contestations of LGBTIQ+ rights (held in English)

    Seminar, Tuesday 4-6 pm

    In this seminar, we will analyze and compare worldwide contestations of the human rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Inter, and Queer (LGBTIQ+) persons. We will look at Global North – Global South divides, development cooperation and the fractions it can lead to, as well as human rights discourses. Unpacking the umbrella acronym (LGBTIQ+) will allow us to delve deeper into questions of power and colonial legacies along intersectional dynamics. We will also discuss the negotiations of rights of LGBTIQ+ persons within different national, regional, and international contexts. On the regional and international level, the organizations of interest are the African Union, the United Nations, the European Union and the Organization of American States. Apart from the state, these have human rights mechanisms and we will analyze their institutional structures, implemented measures, and norms regarding the human rights of LGBTIQ+ persons. We will also take a closer look at the interconnections of key stakeholders, like NGOs, think tanks, lawyers’ associations etc. at the national, regional, and international level. 

Class Lists from Previous Semesters

Spring 2024 (PDF)

Fall 2023 (PDF)

Spring 2023 (PDF)

Fall 2022 (PDF)

Spring 2022 (PDF)

Fall 2021 (PDF)

Fall 2020 (PDF)

Spring 2020 (PDF)

Fall 2019 (PDF)

Spring 2019 (PDF)

German Conversation Classes

The main goal of our Conversation Classes is to improve students' ability to communicate and interact in German. The classes focus on teaching students conversational techniques and strategies, improving students’ listening abilities, and strengthening students’ grasp of German grammar and vocabulary. The conversation classes will have the same language levels as the intensive German language classes. Attendance is mandatory, absence of 15% of the class time or more will result in failing the class.