The persecution and genocide of Jews, Roma and Sinti is central to both German and European history. Nonetheless, politics of memory is a controversial and contested terrain. Since the 1980s Politics of Remembrance and the question of how this particular history of violence marks the present have stimulated internationally and interdisciplinary debates. The challenging questions underlying the Politics of Remembrance are: What are the links between history and memory? To what extent alternative memories are made (in)visible and (im)possible? In what forms do anti-Semitism and racism manifest themselves and how are they interlinked? What are the continuities between the Shoa and contemporary forms of anti-Semitism? What challenges does a Politics of Remembrance pose for a multicultural society? Core concepts of Politics of Remembrance will be introduced to enable students to understand the complex contemporary debates in the field. As part of the university's international curriculum, the course will be conducted in English. Adequate English language competence is required. Active and regular participation and preparation of the reading materials is expected in order to earn minimum ECTS. To earn a certificate of performance 30 minute class presentation or submission of a written paper (15 pages) by the end of the semester is expected. |