TRANSIT BLOG

TRANSIT Blog was formerly part of the Multicultural Germany Project (MGP), which we are now merging with Transit Journal. Founded in 2001 by the German Department at UC Berkeley, MGP served as a research collaborative and continuously updated archive of migration, supported by the tireless energy and willpower of our very own Deniz Göktürk and UC Berkeley’s graduate students. Our blog includes reactions to current events and news, research materials, and teaching resources. Maintained mainly by students at Berkeley, the blog provides a window into our activities and campus discussions. We hope that TRANSIT Blog continues to serve as a resource and forum for both aspiring and continuing professionals in German Studies and its adjacent fields; we welcome contributions of short thought-pieces of ca. 1000-1500 words year-round. If you would like to contribute your own blog post or other materials (in English or German), please contact us at transitjournal@berkeley.edu.

  • culturebase.net

    culturebase.net is a great resource to quickly find reliable information on international artists such as Sevgi Emine Ozdamar or Ersa Ersen. The artist profiles available on this website include their biographies, themes, genres, and lists their body of work. If the artist works with visual media, then samples of their work may be posted to…

  • Kebab-Cutting Robot Stars In Germany’s First Döner Trade Fair

    This article illustrates the growing popularity of turkish food and culture in Germany, detailing the increased appreciation for kebabs by Germans. It is a light-hearted example of some of the perks of being a multikulti society, and I think a good balance compared to the heavier themes more prevalent in news on immigrants/immigration.

  • It Makes No Sense to Ban the Burqa

    This article is about the purported banning of the burqua and niqab in Belgium, following France’s lead in proposing legislation that would outlaw the wearing of these religious garments in the public sphere. The author of this article does raise a good point in that the banning of these articles is treating a symptom rather…

  • It’s Time For Turkey To Snap Out Of Its Self-Delusion

    Conflict ensues over the establishment of Turkish high schools to promote integration in Germany.  Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is putting pressure on German politicians to “see the signs of the times,” having recently lobbied for the Turkish diaspora to promote Turkish interests in their respective countries.  The full article can be read here.…

  • Germany and Britain give strong backing to Iran sanctions

    This article discusses German chancellor Angela Merkel’s decision to support stronger sanctions against Iran regarding their nuclear program. Merkal along with British prime minster Gordon Brown met in England, and they both agreed that stronger sanctions against Iran were necessary in order to curb the nation’s nuclear aspirations. They hope this decision will spur other…

  • Islam for the Diaspora revisited

    In this Der Spiegel article religious scholar Rauf Ceylan discusses the role of the imam in Germany. He advocates for a “homegrown” imam who can modernize the religion and its practice in a new nation. As imams are currently imported from abroad for four-year periods, Islamic leaders are not fully equipped to lead a German…

  • International Right-Wingers Gather for EU-Wide Minaret Ban

    An upcoming conference to be held in Germany this weekend seeks to discuss the possibility of an EU-wide minaret ban. The conference, hosted by the German right-wing group called Pro-NRW, will be attended by other conservative parties from throughout Europe as they gather to “discuss the dangers of Islam.” Members of such parties see minarets…

  • Germany’s Favorite Fast Food – Kebab!

    Full Article Here This article examined the Turkish-German industry of Kebab and fast food in Germany. The article mostly concentrated on the enormous profits that Turkish food and Kebabs offer the German economy.  Stating that the Kebab industry may be worth 2.5 billion Euros, but had never been honored with its own convention until now.…

  • Fast jedes vierte Kind in Tageseinrichtungen mit Migrationshintergrund

    The article “Fast jedes vierte Kind in Tageseinrichtungen mit Migrationshintergrund” is a quick overview of the rising percentage of children in Bavaria that have at least one non-German parent. The account reports that 24.8% of children attending preschool in the state of Bavaria have migrant roots. The statistics presented in this article should not, however,…

  • “Merkel offen fuer tuerkische Schulen in Deutschland” (Merkel is open towards Turkish schools in Germany)

    The article “Merkel offen fuer tuerkische Schulen in Deutschland” (Merkel is open towards Turkish schools in Germany) talks about how chancellor Angela Merkel met with Minister-President Erdogan in Turkey this past week. They discussed the topic of Turkish schools in Germany, stating that schools in which Turkish is taught already exist in Germany. This offering…