Double Exposure

Museums and the Remembrance of the Shoah - Dr. Leora Auslander and Dr. Mirjam Wenzel

How is the Shoah addressed in museums? How do museums extend the commemoration of this singular rupture in the history of humankind to other genocides? What can be understood as the universalization of the Shoah, and what consequences need to be drawn from it when it comes to the question of solidarity? On December 12, Dr. Leora Auslander and Dr. Mirjam Wenzel explored these questions and more at the Goethe Institut Chicago.

Colonialism and Its Impact on Political Solidarity Today - Dr. Emily Marker and Dr. Monica van der Haagen-Wulff

After the end of World War II, European nations promoted European unification as a “peace project.” What remained largely ignored was the obligation resulting from the colonial past of countries like Germany, France, and Great Britain. What kind of solidarity can be expected from the descendants of the colonizers – and those who were colonized? With its legacy of slavery, similar questions came to the forefront in the context of Black Lives Matter: Is there an obligation for white majority society to show solidarity to the descendants of enslaved people? On November 22, at the Goethe-Institut Washington, Dr. Emily Marker and Dr. Monica van der Haagen-Wulff discussed the significance of historical injustices today – and how this plays out in the complex political environment we live in. The conversation was moderated by Dr. Steven E. Sokol, President and CEO of the American Council on Germany.

Cohesion and Resilience in Community and Society - Dr. Clara van den Berg and Dr. Leah Gose

In cases where strong social cohesion is the result of proximity, common interests, and shared identity, solidarity is not a problem. Naturally, societies with higher levels of social cohesion are healthier and more resilient to external shocks. However, not all societies have strong social cohesion. How can we promote greater resilience in society? There is also an inherent tension between living for oneself and living for others. In this edition in the Double Exposure series with the American Council on Germany adn the Goethe Institut, Dr. Clara van den Berg (Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin, WZB) and Dr. Leah Gose (USC Dornsife’s Equity Research Institute) discussed the differences between community and society when it comes to solidarity, resilience, and social cohesion.

Is Interest Politics Dead? - Dr. Delia Baldassarri and Dr. Jan-Werner Müller

Today's societies are characterized by a high degree of diversity and complexity. Cultural, ethnic, religious, and linguistic differences can make social cohesion difficult. Against this backdrop, political and public institutions can foster solidarity across social groups. How do these different interest groups interact with public and political institutions? As polarization and populism reshape the political arena, understanding the role of interest politics is critical. Independent courts, political parties, and a free press can play a critical role in this regard. On November 25 at the American Council on Germany, Dr. Delia Baldassarri and Dr. Jan-Werner Müller explored the forces promoting and disrupting social cohesion in today’s complex environment.

Ethnicity and the Politics of Solidarity - Susan Neiman and Keidrick Roy

What unites individuals to engage in political struggles across geographical, social, religious, and political divides and perceived boundaries? How do solidarity movements challenge the interests and positions of powerful states and systems, both past and present? Solidarity work between minority groups and communities has fluctuated throughout history with common efforts and transnational solidarity has been integral to change and progress. However, international solidarities and their ideological differences have evolved overtime. On October 28 at the American Council on Germany, moral philosopher Susan Neiman and scholar Keidrick Roy, discussed the intersection of politics, ethnicity, race, and solidarity in today’s complex world. What is political solidarity? How is political solidarity shaped by race, religion, and ethnicity? If there is no shared vision for the future, is collective solidarity hopeless? Together, they will explore how collective memory and history influences our political landscape and the challenges of encouraging solidarity across racial, ethnic, and ideological divides.