Rethinking Diversity in Europe

Our workshop on "Rethinking Diversity" on Friday, 28 February 2003, was a great success. Participants from UC Berkeley included: Professors Ron Takaki, Ethnic Studies; Pheng Cheach, Rhetoric; Eckhard Schroeter, Political Sciences; Emily Gottreich, Center for Middle Eastern Studies; and Barbara Mennel, Visiting Fellow in Women Studies.

The Dean of Humanities Ralph Hexter attended in the second half and contributed to the discussion. There were also about a dozen graduate students and visiting doctoral students. We were happy that Minoo Moallem, Director of Women Studies at SFSU, could join us, and we are hoping to collaborate with her on future occasions. The director of the Goethe-Institute, Ulrich Everding, who has a strong interest in this topic, participated in the discussion, generously funded a dinner for the participants, and has promised to support future events. Zafer Senocak, who was a Max Kade Distinguished Visitor in the German Department this semester, attended and contributed as well. It was a most productive afternoon.

In the discussion we addressed the following questions:
  • What is the time frame for debates on multiculturalism? Where to begin? Where to stop? What to include?
  • What are the limits of diversity? Does it only concern minorities and margins?
  • How do different nation states and their institutions employ the rhetoric of cultural diversity?
  • What is to be gained from a cross-national comparison?
  • How would a cross-disciplinary exchange between humanities and social sciences frame questions of diversity?
This research project ran parallel with a graduate seminar co-taught by Professor Göktürk and Zafer Senocak on "Hybrid Cultures: Jews and Turks in Germany." Several students who are in the research group also attended the graduate seminar. Some of their seminar papers might be appropriate as IES working papers. One of our graduate students has drafted a website for the project, which we are currently revising.

We are planning another workshop in the fall with a visitor from Germany. Werner Schiffauer from Frankfurt/Oder has been invited and has agreed to come. He gave a lecture at the IES on November 6th, followed by our workshop on November 8th. In the spring 2004, we will hold an international conference (end of February 2004).