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.

  • Gentrification in Hamburg – Can Ikea Save a Run-Down Neighborhood?

    http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,673016,00.html This article illustrates the views of those for and against the construction of an Ikea complex to replace the dying Grosse Bergstrasse shopping center in Hamburg’s Altona district. Those in favor of the multicultural company believe that the revenue and jobs provided by Ikea would breathe new life into the neighborhood. Those against the…

  • Islamist Violence in Europe – We Shouldn’t Exaggerate the Danger

    http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,670050,00.html The recent attack on Danish cartoonist Kurt Westergaard has left much of Europe in fear of continued Islamic attacks against various communities. The article interviews Islam scholar Peter Heine on his views of the continued perception of terrorist danger in Germany. Peter Heine does a wonderful job of illustrating the viewpoints of parties on…

  • “Architektur des Mordes”

    This is an article about the recent rediscovery of the architectural plans of Auschwitz that are now on display in Berlin.  The Israeli Premier commented that the reminder of the catastrophes of World War II are critical in preventing similar horrors in today’s world, particularly in terms of the Israeli-Iranian tensions. Original article can be…

  • Debate on Feminism and Islam

    In a recent election in Switzerland, most citizens voted to ban the construction of minarets. Among those who voted for the ban were many Swiss feminists. Claudia Pinl asks whether it is fair to label the fears Western feminists have about Islam’s view of women as xenophobic, or if those Westerners who are afraid to…

  • More people seeking asylum in Germany

    In 2009 Germany saw an increase in asylum seekers, most from war-torn Afghanistan. Though this number is up 25% from 2008, the number of people seeking asylum in Germany is quite low compared to previous decades. In the 1990’s, the number of people seeking asylum in Germany was significantly higher than the 27,700 plus in…

  • Workplace bullying trial begins

    It is interesting to note that there are quite a few recent articles about discrimination in Germany, particularly if the victim is a member of a demographic minority in Germany. However in my opinion, it does not say that due to this high occurrence of similar discrimination cases that Germany is unwelcoming to foreign workers,…

  • Omulaule heißt Schwarz (Omulaule means black)

  • Studie zu “Ehrenmorden”

    Ein Bericht über eine Studie zu “Ehrenmorden”, die viel Aufmerksamkeit in der deutschen Presse finden, aber nicht unbedingt als solche bezeichnet werden sollten. Die Zeit: Was den Mord zum Ehrenmord macht

  • Abstimmung über Minarettbau in der Schweiz

    Die Schweizer haben sich gegen Minarette entschieden: Spiegel Online: Schweizer stimmen gegen Minarettbau Swiss Minaret Ban Reflects Fear of Islam, Not Real Problems Europas Rechte bejubeln Minarett-Verbot Erste Proteste gegen Schweiz: Islamische Welt entsetzt über Minarett-Verbot Gegenbewegung: Tausende Schweizer demonstrieren gegen Minarettverbot Minarettverbot: Fatih Akin sagt Schweiz-Premiere ab Die Zeit:  Schweizer Referendum: Mit dem Rücken…

  • Almost Half of Turkish Migrants Want to Leave

    Spiegel Online: Almost Half of Turkish Migrants Want to Leave