Germany and the World in the Age of Globalization

For some decades, debate on contemporary German history has focused on the concept of the Sonderweg, the idea that German history stood apart from the history of all other European countries. The critique of this idea, launched by British historians in the 1980s, has now effectively made its point. Very few historians in the twenty-first century study German history in isolation from its wider European context. However, current research is beginning to take this contextualization a step further, linking Germany to the wider world. Such a step is a natural one to take in an age of rapidly increasing globalization. Yet globalization itself needs to be the subject of research. Issues such as migration to and from Germany, the creation of minority ethnic and religious communities in Germany, cultural links between Germany and other parts of the world outside Europe, economic and social ties between Germany and overseas, the Americanization of German culture (and reactions to it), Germany’s role in the international system after unification and many more besides, have only recently begun to be studied. The aim of this project was to encourage this study and to facilitate the exchange of ideas, work in progress, and research results.

The project (2011-2014) was hosted by the University of Cambridge, in co-operation with Freie Universität Berlin, Universität Konstanz, the Universität Freiburg, Birkbeck (University of London), and the Zentrum für Antisemitismusforschung at the TU Berlin. It was funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) as part of its programme “Promoting German Studies in the UK”. Twice a year, workshops were held at the participating institutions. In addition, doctoral and postdoctoral fellows were given the opportunity to spend time at one of the partner institutions.

The first workshop took place at King’s College, Cambridge, March 29-31, 2011, on the subject of Migration, Mobility and Movement in Modern German History.

The second workshop took place at Freie Universität Berlin, September 15-17, 2011, on the subject of German Post-/Colonial History in a Global Age.

The third workshop took place at Cambridge University, March 28-30, 2012 on the subject of Germany and World Religions in the 19th and 20th Centuries. (Click here to view the conference report)

The fourth workshop took place at Universität Freiburg, September 20-21, 2012 on the subject of Cold War Culture. The Global Conflinct and its Legacies in Germany since 1945. (Click here to view the conference report)

The fifth workshop took place at Cambridge University March 20-22, 2013 on the subject of Anglo-German Perceptions and Prejudices since 1800.  

The sixth workshop took place at University of Konstanz, September 26-28, 2013 on the subject of Communication, the Media and Perceptions in German and British History (18th to 20th century).

The seventh workshop took place at Birkbeck, University of London, March 27-29, 2014 on the subject of Labour and Race in Modern German History.