New NCGS Series “CHALLENGING CONVERSATIONS”: On Numbers and Feelings: Antisemitism in Germany Today

March 16, -
Speaker(s): STEFANIE SCHÜLER-SPRINGORUM, Director of and Professor at the Zentrum für Antisemitismusforschung of the TU Berlin

Antisemitism seems to be on the rise, in Germany and elsewhere. However, the scope of this rise, its reason, its agents and last but not least its meaning, as well as the political consequences to be drawn from it, are fiercefully debated. In my paper, I will discuss the various ways of assessing antisemitism in Germany today: Survey and Polls, historical and sociological qualitative research, statistics by police and civil society organizations as well as the media covering of important events. I will put special attention to the pitfalls of each approach and to the problems of the 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 in Berlin, and, since 2020, is the 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); Perspektiven deutsch-jüdischer Geschichte: Geschlecht und Differenz (2014).

Opening Remarks: RUTH BERNUTH (Dircector, Carolina Center for Jewish Studies, UNC Chapel Hill)

Comment: THOMAS PEGELOW-KAPLAN  I  Appalachian State University, Department of History

Moderation: ANDREA SINN  I   Elon University, Department of History and Geography

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