Alberto Cunha

English B2

Wednesday, 4:00-6:30pm

This course aims at studying and analyzing the impact of Germany’s structural power within both the European Union and in key regions and global players – within the multipolar context in which we live. It will provide students with a theoretically informed understanding of Germany and its role as a regional and global actor. Apart from the institutional framework of the EU, the course examines the different tools through which the member-states pursue their external relations. At the end of the course, students should have strong research foundations on how to use the heuristic theoretical concepts of multipolarity, structural power, hegemony, or regional governance/leadership. Students will develop an in-depth advanced understanding of how the European Union as an innovative multilevel governance system works. Students will gain knowledge about how Germany leverages its central role within the European Union, together with other regions, to foster political, economic, social, and cultural integration with other global major and middle powers.

Vasilis Kapetanos

English B2

Thursday, 4:00-6:30pm

This class will give an overview of the most important issues raised in international commercial litigation. The course deals with cases where an international commercial transaction has given rise to a legal dispute between the parties and where this dispute is not decided by arbitration. In such a scenario, the parties have to litigate before the domestic court of a State. This raises a number of difficult issues, a selection of which will be dealt with in the course, primarily from a European (EU) and from a US perspective. One part of the course will be devoted to the issue of international jurisdiction: In which state’s courts can the plaintiff bring his lawsuit against the defendant? What if there are several states that offer a ground of jurisdiction? Why does it matter at all whether a dispute is litigated in one state rather than in another? Can the parties in their contract choose the forum in which future claims will be litigated (forum selection)? A second part of the course will deal with a selection of specific issues that may arise in international commercial litigation: What if the court which is seized with the lawsuit regards itself as an inappropriate forum (forum non conveniens)? What if the same lawsuit is brought twice, but in different states (lis alibi pendens)? What are the so-called “torpedo claims”? Is it possible to prevent the other party from bringing a lawsuit in a certain state by way of an “antisuit injunction”? Will a judgment from the courts of one state be recognized and enforced in other states?

Dr. Victoria Bishop Kendzia

English B2

Tuesday, 12:30-3:00pm

Berlin’s rich muselogical landscape lends itself to in-depth exploration: How are the upheavals of the 20th and 21st centuries remembered and represented? How can the urban landscape be read as a myriad of dynamic sites? What do these sites, in turn, tell us about past traumas and present-day issues? This course aims to enable the students to get to know a number of Berlin museums focussing on key aspects of memory of the Second World War and Post-WWII migration, using anthropological methods. Students are encouraged to critically analyse these reprentations within larger theoretical frameworks of “self” and “other” constructions, exploring the role of museums in rendering such constructions visible.

Dr. Mai Lin Tjoa-Bonatz

English B2

Thursday, 12:30-3:00pm

Berlin is a multi-cultural city with a diverse cultural life and heritage. The course will present critical heritage studies connected to Asia. Starting with the fascination of collectors and travelers to Asia during the colonial period, collections and material culture has lend contemporary relevance to the arts, history and politics. During the excursions to museums and cultural institutions in Berlin we want to critically engage in the discourses on what Asian heritage is and how it should be studied and managed. This allows an integration of heritage and museum studies. The course approaches a broad spectrum from crafts, intangible heritage and memorialization to rights policies and property issues. Monuments, religious sites or street names reflect Berlin’s colonial legacies and minority histories of different communities from Asia.

Azakhiwe Nocanda

English B2

Tuesday, 9:00-11:30

This course is designed to introduce students to the wide interdisciplinary perspective on diversity, politics of belonging and the status of citizenship of people within the African Diaspora in Berlin. The course will travel through the hidden geography of the so-called Afrikanisches Viertel in Wedding and focus on issues around public space, monuments, and street names from the 1960s to the present day that have anchored German colonialism. We will consider the relationship between colonialism and white supremacy in Germany, whilst examining the ongoing debate around how German (Anti-) racism has been influenced by earlier colonial ideology and practice. We will turn to the resurgence of colonialism as a theme in recent literature and historiography. Africa, in all of its cultural prosperity and diversity, remains alive in the receiving societies as the various ethnic groups created new cultures and recreated their old ways as much as circumstances allowed. Students are encouraged to critically analyse these representations with the intentional notion of undoing – unlearning within larger theoretical frameworks of the (in) visability of the African diaspora in Berlin. Exploring these themes plays an important role in understanding the intricacies of how different forms of citizenship are experienced and negotiated by people within the African diaspora.

Julia de Freitas Sampaio; Alexandre Nogueira Martins

English B2

Tuesday, 4:00-6:30pm

This course explores the complex historical and contemporary dynamics of German colonialism, anti-colonial resistance movements, and the impact of colonialism on present-day German society. Divided into four themes that intersect throughout the classes, the course provides a comprehensive understanding of the German colonial past, anti-colonial struggles in Berlin, contemporary Berlin as a site of colonial heritage, and the emergence of post-colonial and decolonial movements in the city. The first main theme is the German colonial era, in which we examine key historical events, colonial practices, and the territories under German control. We explore Berlin as a physical and symbolic space that reflects the remnants of German colonialism and consider how these remnants shape the city's identity. The second one focuses on resistance movements against colonization. We study the diverse strategies and initiatives employed by individuals and communities who fought against German colonialism both in the colonies and in Berlin and the capital of the German empire. Moving into the third theme, we investigate the effects of colonialism on contemporary German society. We examine how colonial legacies continue to shape social, political, and cultural structures in Germany today. Topics include the influence of colonialism on immigration policies, racial dynamics, cultural heritage, and the representation of marginalized communities. As far as the fourth theme is concerned, we engage with postcolonial and decolonial contemporary movements. We critically examine different theoretical frameworks and approaches used to deconstruct colonial power structures, challenge Eurocentric narratives, and envision alternative futures. We explore the global context of decolonial movements and their relevance to Germany and Berlin specifically. Throughout the course, students will be able to develop critical thinking skills, gain historical knowledge, and engage in interdisciplinary analysis. By examining the German colonial past, anti-colonial resistance movements, and decolonial theories, students will gain a comprehensive understanding of the complexities surrounding colonialism and its aftermath, fostering a critical lens for interpreting and addressing contemporary issues of power, identity, and social justice in Germany and beyond.

Dr. Betiel Wasihun

English B2

Wednesday, 9:00-11:30

What does it mean to live in a surveillance society? How does the digital age challenge questions regarding privacy, individuality and freedom? When does surveillance as care tip over into surveillance as control? And how does the Stasi system of vigilance prefigure contemporary surveillance culture? This course will on the one hand examine the impact of surveillance on society by looking at the multifaceted ways technologies, societies and the arts interact and, on the other hand, reflect on surveillance in a totalitarian context while comparing observation techniques in the GDR with contemporary surveillance methods. The course further encourages students to critically engage with the representation of surveillance in contemporary literature, film and popular culture and maps out important themes with regards to surveillance and its repercussions (e.g., visibility, identity, privacy and control). Furthermore, the course provides an overview of the interdisciplinary field of surveillance studies and covers the latest research in the following major areas: 1. Relationship between surveillance, power and social control; 2. Histories of Surveillance: GDR and the Stasi (especially in the context of Berlin); 3. The concept of privacy; 4. Surveillance in the arts and popular culture.

Dr. Marita Meyer

English B2

Thursday, 9:00-11:30

Germany is well-known for its discourses on nature if we look at philosophy or if we think of environmental politics. But is there also a significant tradition of Nature Writing in the literary field (like there is in English language literature)? For a long time, scholars would have denied this and would have argued about the reasons for this phenomenon. Not until recently there have been new academic and publishing endeavors to identify a – broken – tradition of Nature Writing in German language literature and also to acknowledge innovative contributions to the Genre in contemporary writing. In this course we will read and discuss different concepts and different examples of Nature Writing from the time of Romanticism until today.

Veselina Dzhumbeva

English B2

Monday, 9:00-11:30

This course provides a multifaceted exploration of the evolving roles and experiences of women across diverse historical and cultural landscapes, primarily through the lens of literature. It begins by delving into foundational identity theories, namely constructivism and essentialism, and their application to different identity types. The journey spans pivotal moments in history, from the Russian Empire and Nazi Germany to the Soviet Union's Stalinist era and the post-Soviet transition. Throughout, the course examines how societal shifts manifest in the literary works of influential women writers, offering a nuanced understanding of the intersectionality of gender, identity, and cultural evolution. Students engage in critical discussions on topics ranging from the feminist movements of the 1960s and 1970s to the impact of perestroika and the fall of the Iron Curtain. An excursion to the DDR Museum provides a tangible connection to historical contexts, complementing the theoretical foundation established through readings by key theorists and authors. The course culminates in student presentations, which will allow the students to synthesize what they have learnt and to explore the intricate relationship between literature, gender, and societal transformations throughout history.

Samuel Perea-Díaz

English B2

Wednesday, 12:30-3:00pm

The seminar reflects on perspectives of curating and making exhibitions in Berlin. The course involves visiting Berlin’s museums, galleries, and project spaces. The colloquium provides conversations with Berlin based-curators and artists. It allows students to explore and understand the contemporary curatorial practice of the city by visiting and analyzing different institutions, reading theoretical texts, and developing a practical case study. The topics focus on urban culture, contemporary arts, and queer studies. The course is ideal for future researchers and cultural workers that want to explore the work of curatorial research and exhibition-making. The work performed by the student includes readings, group discussions, and curatorial writing strategies, and it concludes with a conceptualization of making an exhibition proposal as a final project.

Laura Holzer

No German language skills required

Monday, 12:30-3:00pm (group 1)
Monday, 4:00-6:30pm (group 2)

In this course, the basics of grammar and German vocabulary are conveyed and practiced to enable students to communicate in everyday situations in the German language successfully. The basics of the conjugation of verbs and the usage of articles in the German language are the subject of this course at A1 level. You will learn to introduce yourself and to form simple sentence constructions. A focus is placed on oral language skills, which are developed through interactive working methods. Topics related to German regional studies are also integrated into the course.

This course is offered in co-operation with NYU Berlin.

t.b.a.

German A2

Tuesday and Thursday (twice a week), 9:15-11:30 am (t.b.c.)

In this course, you will continue to study grammar, vocabulary and other aspects of the German language. The class is entirely taught in German and emphasizes the language skills necessary to communicate effectively in a foreign language – speaking, listening, viewing, reading and writing. The course program also includes and reflects on different aspects of gender-neutral language. During the course, you will engage with a large variety of topical subjects from German culture and history as well as art, films, theater, literature and music. This course aims to create a balance between working with intellectually stimulating subjects and practicing the skills needed to communicate in a foreign language and to interact with members of diverse groups of people.