Virtual: ‘On Numbers and Feelings: Anti-Semitism in Germany Today’

Join the North Carolina German Studies and Workshop Series for a discussion on anti-Semitism in Germany.

Anti-Semitism seems to be on the rise, in Germany and elsewhere. However, the scope of this rise, its reason, its agents and its meaning, as well as the political consequences to be drawn from it, are fiercely debated. In my paper, I will discuss various ways of assessing antisemitism in Germany today: surveys and polls, historical and sociological qualitative research, statistics by police and civil society organizations as well as the media coverage of important events. I will pay special attention to the pitfalls of each approach and to the problems of media discourse. Finally, I will discuss the results of this overview against the backdrop of rising populism, racism and other forms of resentment in Germany, Europe and worldwide.

Stefanie Schüler-Springorum is the director of the Center for Research on Antisemitism, and Co-Director of the Selma-Stern-Center for Jewish Studies, both in Berlin. Since 2020, she has served as director of the Berlin branch of the Center for Research on Social Cohesion. Her main fields of research are Jewish, German and Spanish History. Recent publications include “Four Years After: Antisemitism and Racism in Trump’s America” (edited with N. and M. Zadoff, H. Paul, 2020); “The Challenge of Ambivalence: Antisemitism in Germany Today“ (2018); and “Perspektiven deutsch-jüdischer Geschichte: Geschlecht und Differenz” (2014).

Opening Remarks: Ruth Bernuth, director, Carolina Center for Jewish Studies, UNC-Chapel Hill

Comments: Thomas Pegelow-Kaplan, Department of History, Appalachian State University

Moderation: Andrea Sinn, Department of History and Geography, Elon University

Co-Conveners: UNC-Chapel Hill, Department of History, Carolina Center for Jewish Studies and Center for European Studies, and Appalachian State University, Center for Judaic, Holocaust, and Peace Studies

The Zoom URL for each NCGS seminar will be communicated two weeks before the event via the NCGS listserv.

If you are not on this listserv please contact the NCGS organizers Max H. Lazar, (maxlazar@live.unc.edu) and Michael Skalski, (mskalski@live.unc.edu) and ask them to be added this listserv or request the URL for the specific event.