Berkeley Exchange Students Reflect on German Identity
MGP research assistant Judith Sijstermans discusses questions of German and European identity with Shenshen Wang, Nora Schroder, and Svenja Von Itter from the University of Konstanz: In fall 2013, Shenshen Wang, Nora Schröder and Svenja Von Itter came to Berkeley from the University of Konstanz as part of their masters programs on European Cultural Studies. But […]
Ali au pays des mirages (Ali in Wonderland )
Arab life in Paris is seen from the perspective of this Algerian director (Ahmed Rachidi) as he explores issues relating to the French drive to deport Arab workers, and the workers views as to whether or not they would want to leave, and why. Many aspects of Arab life in this foreign setting come forward […]
“Nächstes Jahr kehren wir zurück…”. Die Geschichte der türkischen “Gastarbeiter” in der Bundesrepublik
Als die Bundesanstalt für Arbeit 1961 eine Anwerbestelle in der Türkei einrichtete, geschah dies in der Absicht, dort lediglich den Ersatzbedarf an “Gastarbeitern” zu decken. Bis zum Anwerbestopp 1973 reisten allerdings etwa 865.000 überwiegend männliche türkische Arbeitskräfte in die Bundesrepublik. Obwohl ihre hohen Erwartungen an die Verdienstmöglichkeiten und an das Leben in Westdeutschland rasch enttäuscht […]
Septembertee oder Das geliehene Leben
In ihrem 50. Lebensjahr steht Renan Demirkan am Grab ihrer Mutter in deren türkischem Heimatdorf, erinnert sich noch einmal an die gemeinsamen Jahre und fragt nach den Vorstellungen von Leben und Glück, die ihre Generation mit der ihrer Mutter zugleich verbanden und von ihr trennten. Demirkan kam als Siebenjährige nach der türkischen Staatskrise 1962 nach […]
Immigration and Economy in Europe
In Stephan Theil’s “The Incredible Shrinking Continent,” he writes that though immigrants are being scapegoated for the economic crises in Europe they are actually necessary for future economic growth. Immigration is inevitable, so Europe should accept the influx and use it to their own economic advantage. This article echoed some of the sentiments we’ve read […]
Abschied vom falschen Paradies (Farewell to False Paradise)
Elif, a Turkish immigrant in Germany has been sent to prison for murdering her abusive husband. At the time of her imprisonment she has never ventured outside the Turkish community and even there has no friends. Ironical in prison, among strangers she gains a never before known taste of freedom. But soon she is to […]
Switzerland, a Country of Paradoxes: An Interview about Swiss Identity, Politics and Culture with Hugo Loetscher, Roger de Weck and Iso Camartin / by Jeroen Dewulf, Kezhen Feng, Susan Hunsicker, and Andrew Tweed
Switzerland, a Country of Paradoxes: An Interview about Swiss Identity, Politics and Culture with Hugo Loetscher, Roger de Weck and Iso Camartin Jeroen Dewulf, Kezhen Feng, Susan Hunsicker, and Andrew Tweed Download PDF Abstract: The following interview was compiled from conversations with Hugo Loetscher, Roger de Weck and Iso Camartin during their visits to Berkeley […]
Goodbye, Germany / by Werner Sollors
Goodbye, Germany Werner Sollors Download PDF Abstract: In recent years the question whether Germany was or was not a country of immigration became the bone of party contention, as the governing Gerhard Schöder/Joschka Fischer coalition of Social Democrats and Greens demanded a recognition of the changing face of Germany, and Chancellor Schröder made a thorough […]