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Semester Classes

Foto: Miriam Prüßner

Regular Semester Classes

The International Undergraduate Study Program (IUSP) takes courses from the university's regular course catalogue. Usually, classes take place two hours per week.
Important: Each class, whether held in English or German, is being supported by tutorials (obligatory!) in English with four hours per week, especially for IUSP students. In the tutorials, students are working up the contents of the lecture, not only of the first eight weeks the IUSP participants are staying, but also the contents of the second half of the German semester. In addition, the tutors work more deeply on the topic with the students and deepen their knowledge.

The IUSP students give presentations and write essays on the topics according to the respective class and tutorial. Generally, marks are given for oral work (presentations, performance in class etc.) and written work (reports, bibliographies, homework, essays etc.).

Class Choice: We are adding classes as they come in from the professors, and will start publishing classes from December on for the Spring semester, and from July on for the Fall semester.* As soon as the list will be complete, we will notify all students, and ask for their class choice in an email. We will ask for their final decision after their arrival in Marburg. We strongly recommend students with no or little knowledge of German (up to level A2.2) to choose classes held in English. Students will be able to be tested and obtain credit in English.

Note on Class Attendance
Please bear in mind that attendance is required in order to receive credit for IUSP classes. Failure to attend classes can result in grade cuts and/or a grade not being issued to you if you do not attend classes regularly. IUSP students do not have the option of simply sitting for the exam at the end of the semester without having attended classes. Health issues and other serious reasons for missing lectures are, of course, another matter. Please keep your teacher and/or the IUSP staff informed if you are unable to attend lectures.

*Please note:
Generally speaking, class descriptions are posted online later than what many colleges and universities outside of Germany are accustomed to. The reason for this lies in the differing academic calendars. The classes for the spring semester in Marburg are published in January; classes for the fall semester in Marburg are published in July. We recommend looking at classes from the previous academic year to get a feel for what classes will be offered in the corresponding semester of the current academic year. In most subject areas, similar courses are offered on a rotating basis one time each academic year. We do not offer the same classes every year/semester. Introductory-level courses, however, are generally repeated. Browsing through past catalogues can be helpful in giving you an idea of what courses may be offered and what courses may be counted towards your degree.
The descriptions in the class list are taken from our university course catalogue. It can be accessed, if of interest, through the word "Vorlesungsverzeichnis" in the menu of "Direkt-links" in the upper right corner of this page. By choosing the respective semester the original description can be found.

Class List Fall 2018

Subject Area: American Studies

Subject Area: Archeology

Subject Area: Business Administration and Economics

  • Inhalt ausklappen Inhalt einklappen Prof. Dr. Michael Kirk: Development Economics: Introduction held in English)Prof. Dr. Michael Kirk: Development Economics: Introduction held in English)

    Lecture & Exercise

    Monday 12pm - 2pm & 2pm - 4pm

    Content: 

    Lecture and tutorial deal with key questions of economic development of so-called Third World Countries. Students get an understanding of the complexity of the term “development”, of actors in development cooperation as well as an overview of the history of development economics and its embeddedness in modern economics. Students will learn about the role and problems of growth in the development process. They will be able to critically assess relevant development theories, the magnitude of the poverty problem in developing countries and its implications for population, equity and environmental issues.

    1. Key Problems of Economic Development
    2. Poverty and Inequality: Definition, Measurement, Implications
    3. What is „Development“?
    4. Actors in Development Cooperation
    5. History of Development Economics
    6. Development Theories: A Synopsis
    − Classic Theories on Economic Development
    − Growth Theories
    − Trade and Structuralist Theories and Development
    7. Population Growth and Economic Development
    8. Environment and Development 

    Literature:
    Banerjee, A. & E. Duflo (2011), Poor Economics, A radical rethinking of the way to fight global poverty, New York.
    Easterly W. (2003), Can Foreign Aid Buy Growth? Journal of Economic Perspectives 17 (3): 23-48
    Krugman, Paul R. & M. Obstfeld (2008), International Economics, 8th ed., Boston etc.
    Mankiw N.G., D. Romer und D.N. Weil (1992), A Contribution to the Empirics of Economic Growth, Quarterly Journal of Economics: 407-437
    Meier, G. & J. Rauch (2000/2005), Leading Issues in Economic Development, 7./8. ed., New York,
    Perkins, D. Radelet,S., D. Lindauer & S. Block, (2013), Economics of Development, 7th ed., New York, etc.
    Ray (1998), Development Economics, Princeton,
    Schultz, T.P. & J. Strauss (eds.), (2008), Handbook of Development Economics, Vol 4, North Holland.
    Todaro, M. & E. Smith (2009), Economic Development, 10th ed, Harlow

  • Inhalt ausklappen Inhalt einklappen Prof. Dr. Bernhard Nietert: Entscheidung, Finanzierung und Investition (held in German)Prof. Dr. Bernhard Nietert: Entscheidung, Finanzierung und Investition (held in German)

    Lecture

    Monday 6pm - 8pm

    Content: 

    -    Research Questions

    ·    How should I make decisions?

    ·    How can I separate good real investments and good funding opportunities from bad ones?

    ·    What is risk? How can I measure and manage it?

    -    Content

    1   Introduction

    1.1     Basics

    1.2     Basics of decision theory

    1.3     Types of investments and financing

    2   Investment evaluation under certainty

    2.1     Determination of cash flows under certainty

    2.2    A first approach to investment evaluation under certainty: problem and fundamentals

    2.3     Classical investment evaluation under certainty

    2.4     Modern investment evaluation under certainty

    3   Financing evaluation under certainty

    3.1     Introduction

    3.2     Financing that is directly related to investment

    3.3     Financing that is not related to investment

    4   Risk

    4.1     Getting to know risk

    4.2     Determination of cash flows under risk

    4.3     Management of risk

  • Inhalt ausklappen Inhalt einklappen Dr. Ahmed Badreldin: Introduction to the Economies of the Middle East (held in English)Dr. Ahmed Badreldin: Introduction to the Economies of the Middle East (held in English)

    Lecture

    Tuesday 2pm - 4pm

    Content:

    This course is intended as an introduction to basic economic systems and concepts followed by a comprehensive overview of the economies of the region. The goal is to provide students with a solid basis and understanding of the economies of the region and equip them to analyze these in an objective critical manner.

    Aims of the Lecture:
    1. Introduce basic economic concepts and systems that are found in the region.
    2. Provide an in-depth analysis of representative economies of the region.
    3. Encourage critical thinking and objective analysis for MENA-Economy-related topics to expand horizons and encourage/motivate topics for further research.

    Learning Objectives:
    1. The course is designed to equip students with the necessary tools that would allow them to think and analyze economic problems witnessed in the MENA region in a systematic theory based approach.
    2. After attending the course, participants should be able to make educated comments on ongoing economic discussions in the region.

  • Inhalt ausklappen Inhalt einklappen Prof. Dr. Elisabeth Schulte: Introduction to Institutional Economics (held in English)Prof. Dr. Elisabeth Schulte: Introduction to Institutional Economics (held in English)

    Tandem-teaching, mixture of lecture & exercises in all sessions; online assignments (on ILIAS)

    Day & Time: Monday 8am - 10am AND  Wednesday 12pm - 2pm

    Learning objectives:
    Students acquire an understanding for institutions as solutions for society's cooperation and coordination problems. With instruction and background, students are enabled to understand cultural differences with respect to institutional settings. Students acquire the competence to apply different institutional economics approaches to simple problems and to assess alternative institutional solutions with formal methods.

    Content:
    The course introduces institutions as systems of rules and sanctions which govern economic transactions and social interactions. Several institutions (markets, laws, social norms, political institutions, etc.); the modes through which they are developed; and their impact on individual behaviour are discussed. Important theoretical approaches from the field of institutional economics are applied. Different institutional solutions to social dilemmas are examined.

    Resources:
    Most of the material covered in the course is based on the text book by Groenewegen, Spinthoven and van den Berg (2010): Institutional Economics – An Introduction. Students who want to prepare themselves for the course are advised to read this book.

    All course material is exclusively provided through the online learning system ILIAS.

    Organization:
    Lectures, exercises, and discussions will alternate, so that there is no clear separation between lecture slot and exercise slot. Students will be asked to solve different kinds of online assignments (available on ILIAS), which will help them to become familiar with course concepts and prepare for the exam.

  • Inhalt ausklappen Inhalt einklappen Prof. Dr. Sascha Mölls: Financial Accounting around the World - Empirical Evidence (held in English)Prof. Dr. Sascha Mölls: Financial Accounting around the World - Empirical Evidence (held in English)

    Seminar

    Day & Time: Considering the regular schedule of the IUSP-program, a first appointment with the participants will be arranged via email.

    Pre-requisites: Basic knowledge of financial accounting and/or corporate financing is helpful, but not required.Participants should, however, be interested in the economic analysis on firm and/or country level.

    Course description:
    In the last years countries around the world have either adopted the capital marketoriented International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) or adjusted their national standards accordingly. As the IFRS are deeply linked to a corporate governance system typical for the US or Great Britain companies are supposed to be primarily financed by equity and/or debt offered on well-developed capital markets, employed managers (and not the equity holders themselves) manage companies, decisions of and in firms are typically made with a strict reference to market parameters, ownership is characterized by high rates of free float and labor markets are characterized by a “hire and fire”-philosophy. Against this background the question arises if and in how far this model of corporate governance is suitable for other countries, in particular in Europa and Asia, as financing patterns and the institutional environment in those countries are different in many ways. Based on samples of the 100 biggest corporations from different countries, given annual reports as the main “database”
    and a prepared checklist for the analysis participants are supposed to analyze the financing patterns and the capital market environment empirically to derive and discuss
    implications for the standardsetting process. Thus the main question is: Are capital market-based accounting standards suitable for economies around the world?
    Participants can either work individually or in groups of up to three students. The results of the individual or joint work have to be presented at different stages of the project
    and a short final essay has to be handed in.

    Literature:
    Alexander, David/Nobes, Christopher [2013]: Financial Accounting – An International Introduction, 5th Edition, Pearson: Harlow.
    Penman, Stephen H. [2013]: Financial Statement Analysis and Security Valuation, 5th Edition, McGraw-Hill: New York.
    Weygandt, Jerry J./Kimmel, Paul D./Kieso, Donald E. [2013]: Financial Accounting – IFRS Edition, 2nd Edition, John Wiley & Sons: Hoboken.

  • Inhalt ausklappen Inhalt einklappen Prof. Dr. Sascha Mölls: Empirical Comparative Corporate Governance - International Case Studies (held in English)Prof. Dr. Sascha Mölls: Empirical Comparative Corporate Governance - International Case Studies (held in English)

    Seminar

    Day & Time: Considering the regular schedule of the IUSP-program, a first appointment with the participants will be arranged via email.

    Pre-requisites: Due to the variety of topics specific skills / knowledge are / is not required in advance. Participants should, however, be interested in the economic analysis on firm and/or country level.

    Course description:
    Driven by the idea that national corporate governance systems differ due to several path dependencies such as different cultures, traditions etc. the seminar aims at exploring
    those differences by an empirical analysis of selected topics from the field of “comparative corporate governance”. Based on samples of the 100 biggest corporations from countries around the world, given annual reports as the main “database” and a prepared checklist for the analysis participants are supposed to do joint work in groups of up to three students. Topics include a wide variety of issues such as ownership and control, financing patterns, the use of capital market institutions, board structure, corporate social responsibility-mechanisms, corporate governance codices and manager compensation. The results of the joint work have to be presented at different stages of the project and a short final essay has to be handed in. Assistance will be given on a regular basis.

    Literature:
    Goergen, Marc [2012]: International Corporate Governance, Pearson: Harlow.
    Larcker, David/Tayan, Brian [2001]: Corporate Governance Matters, Pearson: Upper Saddle River.
    Mallin, Christine A. (Ed.) [2011]: Handbook on International Corporate Governance - Country Analyses, 2nd Edition, Edward Elgar: Cheltenham/Northampton.

  • Inhalt ausklappen Inhalt einklappen Prof. Dr. Sascha Mölls: Institutional Activism, Share Repurchases and Hostile Take Overs in Europe (held in English)Prof. Dr. Sascha Mölls: Institutional Activism, Share Repurchases and Hostile Take Overs in Europe (held in English)

    Seminar

    Day & Time: Considering the regular schedule of the IUSP-program, a first appointment with the participants will be arranged via email.

    Pre-requisites: Participants should have some basic knowledge of corporate finance.

    Course description:
    Since the mid-1990s, capital market-orientation seems to be the guiding principle of legal reforms as well as of scientific research. The seminar aims to examine the capital
    market-orientation of large enterprises in Europe based on selected indicators (namely institutional activism, share repurchases and hostile takeovers). Participants
    are supposed to perform an empirical study as a content analysis relying on annual reports and related sources. An appropriate template for a structured analysis is provided
    for by the chair. Starting with a short theoretical introduction the results of the analysis have to be made up in a report (term paper) and are to be presented at different
    stages of the project in the seminar. Participants are supposed to do joint work in groups of up to three students. Assistance will be given on a regular basis.

    Literature:
    Black, B.S. [1992]: Agents watching Agents: The Promise of Institituional Investor Voice, in: UCLA Law Review, Vol. 39(4), p. 811-893.
    Black, B.S. [1992]: The Value of Institutional Investor Monitoring: The Empirical Evidence, in: UCLA Law Review, Vol. 39(4), p. 895-939.
    Larcker, D./Tayan, B. [2015]: Corporate Governance Matters, 2nd Edition, Pearson: Upper Saddle River.
    OECD [2011]: The Role of Institutional Investors in Promoting Good Corporate Governance, OECD Publishing.

  • Inhalt ausklappen Inhalt einklappen Prof. Dr. Sascha Mölls: Corporate Valuation - An International Case Study (held in English)Prof. Dr. Sascha Mölls: Corporate Valuation - An International Case Study (held in English)

    Seminar

    Day & Time: Considering the regular schedule of the IUSP-program, a first appointment with the participants will be arranged via email.

    Pre-requisites: Participants should have some basic knowledge of corporate finance.

    Course description:
    The valuation of firms is one of the most difficult tasks in “practical business” as the valuation has to account for uncertainty concerning the future cash flows as well as
    the cost of capital. The course deals with the theorectical and practical problems of such a valuation process based on a real world case study from the global telecommunication
    industry. Topics include a variety of issues such as the derivation of a future firm strategy, the evaluation of management forecasts, the estimation of firm cash flows and the capital market-based determination of the cost of equity and debt. Participants are supposed to do joint work in groups of up to three students. The results of the joint work have to be presented at different stages of the project and a short final essay has to be handed in. Assistance will be given on a regular basis.

    Literature:
    Berk, J. / DeMarzo, P. [2013]: Corporate Finance, 3rd Ed., Pearson: Upper Saddle River.
    Copeland, T.E. / Weston, J.F. / Sastri, K. [2005]: Financial Theory and Corporate Policy, 4th Ed., Addison-Wesley: London.
    Holthausen, R.W./Zmijewski, M.E. [2014]: Corporate Valuation – Theory, Evidence & Practice, Cambridge Business Publishers: Cambridge.
    Titman, S./Martin, J.D. [2016]: Valuation, 3rd Ed., Pearson: Upper Saddle River

  • Inhalt ausklappen Inhalt einklappen Prof. Dr. Sascha Mölls:  Executive Compensation & Firm Performance - Concepts and Cases (held in English)Prof. Dr. Sascha Mölls:  Executive Compensation & Firm Performance - Concepts and Cases (held in English)

    Seminar

    Day & Time: Considering the regular schedule of the IUSP-program, a first appointment with the participants will be arranged via email.

    Pre-requisites: Due to the variety of topics specific skills / knowledge are / is not required in ad-vance. Participants should, however, be interested in the economic analysis on firm and/or country level.

    Course description:
    Driven by the idea that economic systems differ due to several path dependencies such as different cultures, traditions etc. the seminar aims at exploring differences in managerial remuneration and its consequences for firm performance. Based on samples of the 100 biggest corporations from countries around the world, given an-nual reports as the main “database” and a prepared checklist for the analysis partici-pants are supposed to do joint work in groups of up to three students. Topics include a wide variety of renumeration issues, particularly different compensation structures as well as different degrees of capital market-orientation. The results of the joint work have to be presented at different stages of the project and a short final essay has to be handed in. Assistance will be given on a regular basis.

    Literature:
    Larcker, David/Tayan, Brian [2015]: Corporate Governance Matters, 2nd Edition, Pearson: Upper Saddle River (Chapter 8).
    Mallin, Christine A. (Ed.) [2011]: Handbook on International Corporate Governance - Country Analyses, 2nd Edition, Edward Elgar: Cheltenham/Northampton.
    Murpyh, Kevin J. (1985): Corporate Performance and Managerial Remuneration, in: Journal of Accounting and Economics, Vol. 7, 11-42.

Subject Area: English Studies

Subject Area: German Studies

Subject Area: History

Subject Area: Media Studies 

Subject Area: Peace and Conflict Studies

Subject Area: Philosophy

Subject Area: Political Science

  • Inhalt ausklappen Inhalt einklappen Dr. Wajid Tahir: Development Aid and Gender Relations: Lessons from Aid Recipient Countries (held in English)Dr. Wajid Tahir: Development Aid and Gender Relations: Lessons from Aid Recipient Countries (held in English)

    Seminar

    Friday 10am - 12pm

    Content: The United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs) have focused on gender equality and women’s empowerment throughout the world. To achieve these goals, both developed and developing countries are striving to utilize appropriate and effective development aid. For several decades, donor countries have provided Official Development Assistance (ODA) to developing countries for broad purposes (e.g., infrastructure, health programs); however, since the Beijing Submit (1995), MGDs and SGDs, donor countries have placed special emphasis assistance for women’s economic development, nutrition and security.
    Both aid providers and recipients have agreed to new partnerships and modalities (delivery systems), which are designed to align development activities under the broader framework of ‘Women and Development’. The signatories of ‘Paris Deceleration 2005 on Aid Effectiveness’ and ‘Jakarta Deceleration 2007 on Gender Equality and Aid Effectiveness’
    committed to increase the representation of women’s voices in national development planning (i.e., to take a gender mainstreaming agenda).
    Donors pledged continuous fiscal support and recipients ensured prosper utilization, but the desired targets and commitments were not achieved. As a result, the developing countries continue to face several challenges in promoting gender equality in their societies.
    This course will examine the factors that impede the women’s empowerment in different segments of life despite availability of international aid. The course will cover a sequence of processes that involve policy design, planning, implementation and evaluation of outcomes of aid-based development initiatives focused on women. The course has been divided into four parts. Part one: Introduces the basic concepts of ‘development aid’, ‘gender equality’, ‘women’s empowerment’, and ‘gender and development’. Part two: Reviews various theories and approaches to addressing the issue of ‘Gender and Development’ in a broader perspective, including review the Feminist Approach (to development), Gender & Development Approach, Participatory Development Approach, and re-positioning of feminism in ‘Gender and Development’ discourse. Part three: Describes the practical strategies used in ‘Gender and Development’. It reviews the role of the state in designing effective public policies, programs and projects to ensure women’s empowerment in their societies. The students will learn to what extent existing policies and projects are aligned with women’s needs, and how successful they have been. Part four:
    Presents case studies from education, health, and employment sectors highlighting women’s empowerment approaches. The critical readings and discussions examine to what extent recipient countries are conceptualizing, planning, and implementing ‘aid’ programs that will achieve ‘Gender Equality’ objectives in their societies, as well as to determine how near or far from the SGDs they are at present.

  • Inhalt ausklappen Inhalt einklappen Sanjeev Thavarajah: The African Human Rights System (held in English)Sanjeev Thavarajah: The African Human Rights System (held in English)

    Seminar (Master level)

    Thursday 8am - 10am

    Content: The aim of the course is to provide a detailed examination of the structures in the African regional systems for the promotion and protection of human rights. We will consider the role of the Organisation of African Unity/African Union. The module shall focus, in particular, on the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the work of its Commission and the work of the judicial institutions. It will further provide a critical overview of the development of relevant African human rights norms. We shall also look at limitations, individual duties, civil and political rights as well as socio-economic rights. 

    Literature:

    Essential (Books/Journals/Specific chapters/Journal Articles)
    Cobbah, J ‘African Values and the Human Rights Debate: An African Perspective’, 9(3) Human Rights Quarterly (1987) 309-331
    Howard, R., ‘Evaluating Human Rights in Africa: Some Problems of Implicit Comparisons’, 6(2) Human Rights Quarterly (1984) 160-179
    Ibhawoh, B, ‘Between Culture and Constitution: Evaluating the Cultural Legitimacy of Human Rights in the African State’, 22(3) HRQ (2000) 838-860
    Magliveras and Naldi, G, ‘The African Union. A New Dawn for Africa?’, 51(2) The International and Comparative Law Quarterly (2002) 415-425
    Viljoen, F, International human rights law in Africa, Oxford University Press, 2007, Chapter 5 Recommended
    Ankumah, E, The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights. Practices and Procedures, Martinus Nijhoff, The Hague, 1996, Chapters 1, 2 and 5
    Anyangwe, C, ‘Obligations of states parties to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights’, 10 RADIC (1998) 625
    Evans, M and Murray R, The African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. The System in Practice, Cambridge University Press, 2002, Chapters 5 and 6
    Okere, OB, ‘The Protection of Human Rights in Africa and the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights: A Comparative Analysis with the European and American Systems’ 6 Human Rights Quarterly (1984) 141-159
    Umozurike, UO, The African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, Martinus Nijhoff, The Hague, 1998
    Bedjaoui M, ‘The Right to Development and the jus cogens’, 2(2) Lesotho Law Journal (1986) 93-129
    Dersso, SA, ‘The Jurisprudence of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights with Respect to Peoples’ Rights’ (2006) 6 AHRLJ 358 

  • Inhalt ausklappen Inhalt einklappen Prof. Dr. Hubert Zimmermann: Key Controversies in European Integration (held in English)Prof. Dr. Hubert Zimmermann: Key Controversies in European Integration (held in English)

    Seminar (Master level)

    Friday 10am - 12pm

    Please note: Prerequisite for attending this seminar is having basic knowledge of the European Union!

    Content: to come

Subject Area: Psychology

  • Inhalt ausklappen Inhalt einklappen Carmen Lienen: Social Psychology and Politics (held in English)Carmen Lienen: Social Psychology and Politics (held in English)

    Seminar

    Thursday 10am - 12pm

    Content:

    What is the connection between psychology and politics in everyday encounters? What is the relevance of politics to intergroup relations and systems of knowledge about belonging, nationalism and cultural groups? What are the psychological processes involved in social and political change? These and other questions will be discussed in the seminar Social Psychology and Politics, with reference to current political events. Theories of social representations, identity, prejudice, contact and post-colonialism as well as their practical applications will be critically explored. The aim of the seminar is to show students the relevance of social psychology outside the university context as well as the interplay between theory and practice.

    After completing this seminar, students will be familiar with theories in social psychology and able to apply their gained knowledge to political issues. Beyond that, students will have developed skills in scientific reading and presentation.

    The successful completion of the seminar requires continuous participation (e.g., through individual work, preparing readings, individual or group presentations, organising discussions). 

    Core literature

    Howarth, C., & Andreouli, E. (2017). The social psychology of everyday politics. London: Routledge.

    Tileagă, C. (2013). Political Psychology: Critical perspectives. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

  • Inhalt ausklappen Inhalt einklappen Prof. Dr. Christopher Cohrs: Psychology of Peace and Conflict (held in English)Prof. Dr. Christopher Cohrs: Psychology of Peace and Conflict (held in English)

    Lecture

    Thursday 10am - 12pm

    Content: 

    Based on Galtung's concepts of personal, structural and cultural violence as well as models of cycles of violence, the lecture gives an overview of the psychological factors and processes involved in peace, conflict, and violence at the interpersonal, intergroup, and international levels. It covers concepts, theories, empirical findings, as well as intervention programs. Some example topics include social identity, prejudice, enemy images, group-based emotions, collective memory, aggression, retribution, social dominance, relative deprivation, political protest, terrorism, intergroup contact, interactive problem-solving, intergroup reconciliation, forgiveness. 

    Core literature

    Christie, D. J., Wagner, R. V., & Winter, D. D. (Eds.) (2001). Peace, conflict, and violence: Peace psychology for the 21st century. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall. [http://u.osu.edu/christie/about/peace-conflict-and-violence-peace-psychology-for-the-21st-century/]

    Tropp, L. R. (Ed.) (2012). The Oxford handbook of intergroup conflict. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 

  • Inhalt ausklappen Inhalt einklappen Adrian Rothers: Peace & Conflict: Research Methods (held in English)Adrian Rothers: Peace & Conflict: Research Methods (held in English)

    Seminar

    Thursday 12pm - 2pm

    Content:

    The seminar gives an introduction to quantitative methods of social psychological conflict research and a glance at qualitative research. The seminar focuses on experimental studies, survey analyses, and longitudinal designs. Participants will read and discuss research papers and gain practice in developing research designs.
    At the end of the seminar, participants will be familiar with relevant concepts such as sampling issues and their implications for scientific interpretations, data collection and interpretation, internal and external validity, causality and informational value. Primary goal of the seminar is that participants develop a framework for understanding implications and limitations of research methods in peace and conflict studies.
    The format of the seminar will be lecture-style with interactive sections.

Subject Area: Religious Studies

Subject Area: Social and Cultural Anthropology

  • Inhalt ausklappen Inhalt einklappen Dr. Marion Näser-Lather: Protestkulturen (held in German)Dr. Marion Näser-Lather: Protestkulturen (held in German)

    Seminar

    Wednesday 2pm - 4pm

    Content:

    Die ökonomische und politische Krise seit 2008, die mit der Überschuldung insbesondere der südeuropäischen Staaten, sinkenden Löhnen, hoher Arbeitslosigkeit und einem Abbau von Sozialleistungen einherging, hat in vielen europäischen Ländern auf lokaler, regionaler wie nationaler Ebene zur Emergenz neuer Bewegungen der Solidarität und des Protestes geführt, beispielsweise in Form der so genannten Antiausteritätsbewegungen. Zudem hat sich die Protestlandschaft in den letzten Jahren verändert: Neben dem Trend der Gamifizierung von Protest und dem Phänomen der Wutbürger sind vermehrt Praktiken des alltäglichen und projektförmigen Protestes beobachtbar.

    Das Seminar möchte die Hintergründe dieser aktuellen Entwicklungen beleuchten. Dazu werden anhand kurzer Texte klassische wie aktuelle Theorien der Bewegungsforschung gemeinsam reflektiert und mögliche methodische Herangehensweise an die Ethnographie einer Bewegung diskutiert. Zudem werden einzelne Aspekte aktivistischen Handelns, etwa Kommunikations- und Protestpraktiken oder die Rolle von Emotionen für Bewegungen, beleuchtet. In Impulsreferaten sollen unterschiedliche aktivistische Gruppen vorgestellt werden. Gemeinsam wollen wir erarbeiten, was eine Bewegung ausmacht, welche Faktoren zur Erklärung ihres Auftretens und ihres (Miß-)Erfolgs beitragen und welche Formen widerständiges Handeln annehmen kann. Geplant ist zudem eine Tagesexkursion zu einem Protestereignis.

     Literatur:

    Balint, Iuditha/Dingeldein, Hannah/Lämmle, Kathrin (Hg.) (2014): Protest, Empörung, Widerstand. Konstanz: UVK Verl.-Ges.

    Della Porta, Donatella (2015): Social Movements in Times of Austerity. Cambridge: Polity Press.

    Della Porta, Donatella/Diani, Mario (1999): Social Movements: An introduction. Oxford u.a.: Blackwell.

    Gerbaudo, Paolo (2012): Tweets and the streets: Social media and contemporary activism. London: Pluto Press

    Lofland, John (1996): Social movement organizations: guide to research on insurgent realities. New York: de Gruyter.

    Schönberger, Klaus/Sutter, Ove (Hg.) (2009): Kommt herunter, reiht euch ein ... Eine kleine Geschichte der Protestformen sozialer Bewegungen. Berlin: Assoziation A.

    Warneken, Bernd Jürgen (Hg.): Massenmedium Straße. Zur Kulturgeschichte der Demonstration. Frankfurt am Main u.a.: Campus-Verlag

  • Inhalt ausklappen Inhalt einklappen Prof. Dr. Siegfried Becker: Verbrechen erinnern. Holocaust und kollektives Gedächtnis (held in German)Prof. Dr. Siegfried Becker: Verbrechen erinnern. Holocaust und kollektives Gedächtnis (held in German)

    Seminar

    Monday 8am - 10am

    Content:

    Wie erinnern wir den Holocaust? Bereits die früh veröffentlichten, in Bilder, Gedichte, Biographien gefassten Zeugenberichte reflektierten den drohenden Verlust der Erinnerungen. Erzählen können nur diejenigen, die überlebt haben, Zeugenschaft ablegen nur die, die das Grauen in den Vernichtungslagern selbst erfahren haben. Doch die Überlebenden werden älter, und mit den Zeugen sterben die Erinnerungen. Wir werden künftig neue Wege finden müssen, um die Auseinandersetzung mit dem Holocaust weiterzutragen.

    Dies betrifft nicht nur die Frage der medialen Vermittlung. Es setzt eine Reflexion narrativer Strukturen der Vermittlung voraus. Die Erfahrungen einer zerbrechenden Zeit, die Jörn Rüsennach dem Sinn der Geschichte fragen lässt, differenziert die Möglichkeiten und Grenzen historischer Sinnbildung nach den Schreckenserfahrungen des 20. Jahrhunderts auslotend, machen eine negative Dialektik der Sinnbildung erforderlich, den Versuch eines Erzählens des Nicht-Erzählbaren. Historisches Erzählen, sagt Rüsen, müsse sich heute selbst negieren, sich als Erzählen überwinden, um als historische Sinnbildung im Horizont moderner Zeiterfahrungen zu überzeugen. Nur dann, wenn das narrativ konfigurierte Sinngebilde einer Geschichte Abwesenheit, Mangel und Negation von Sinn noch an den gedeuteten Erfahrungsbeständen der Vergangenheit sichtbar und erkennbar mache, könne historisches Erzählen heute überzeugen. Eine Geschichte, die im Medium der historischen Erfahrung eine Sinnhaftigkeit in der zeitlichen Verfassung der menschlichen Welt und des menschlichen Selbst bruchlos aufscheinen lässt, so dass die präsentierte Geschichte eine geschlossene Sinngestalt hat, sei eine Lüge. Anders könne angesichts der Sinnlosigkeitserfahrungen des 20. Jahrhunderts, deren radikalste und zugleich typischste der Holocaust ist, nicht argumentiert werden.

     Literaturhinweise:

    Bannasch, Bettina, und Almuth Hammer (Hrsg.): Verbot der Bilder – Gebot der Erinnerung. Mediale Repräsentationen der Schoah. Frankfurt a.M./New York 2004

    Elm, Michael, und Gottfried Kößler (Hrsg.): Zeugenschaft des Holocaust. Zwischen Trauma, Tradierung und Ermittlung. (Fritz Bauer Institut, Jahrbuch 2007 zur Geschichte und Wirkung des Holocaust) Frankfurt a. M./New York 2007

    Elm, Michael: Zeugenschaft im Film. Eine erinnerungskulturelle Analyse filmischer Erzählungen des Holocaust. Berlin 2008

    Erler, Hans (Hrsg.): Erinnern und Verstehen. Der Völkermord an den Juden im politischen Gedächtnis der Deutschen. Frankfurt/New York 2003

    Knigge, Volkhard, und Norbert Frei (Hrsg.): Verbrechen erinnern. Die Auseinandersetzung mit Holocaust und Völkermord. München 2002

    Kroh, Jens: Transnationale Erinnerung. Der Holocaust im Fokus geschichtspolitischer Initiativen. Frankfurt a. M./New York 2008.

    Rüsen, Jörn: Zerbrechende Zeit. Über den Sinn der Geschichte. Köln - Weimar - Wien 2001

    Young, James Edward: Beschreiben des Holocaust. Darstellung und Folgen der Interpretation. Aus dem Amerikanischen von Christa Schuenke. Frankfurt am Main 1992

  • Inhalt ausklappen Inhalt einklappen Prof. Dr. Ina Merkel: Männlichkeiten. Repräsentationen von Geschlecht in zeitgenössischen Medien (held in German)Prof. Dr. Ina Merkel: Männlichkeiten. Repräsentationen von Geschlecht in zeitgenössischen Medien (held in German)

    Seminar

    Thursday 10am - 12pm

    Content: Das Seminar verfolgt zwei Ziele: Einmal geht es darum herauszufinden, wie in der populären Kultur Männlichkeit dargestellt und inszeniert wird, welche Modelle hier in idealer Form verhandelt und inwiefern darin Realitäten verarbeitet werden, welche Männlichkeiten darin favorisiert oder abgewertet werden und was das mit den westlichen Vorstellungen von hegemonialer Männlichkeit zu tun hat. Zum anderen sollen Methoden der kulturwissenschaftlichen Medienanalyse vermittelt und dann am konkreten Material erprobt werden. Uns wird bei der exemplarischen Analyse ausgewählter Repräsentationen von Männlichkeit vor allem die Frage interessieren, warum bestimmte Inszenierungen so populär sind. Bitte suchen Sie sich in Vorbereitung auf das Seminar ein Beispiel, mit dem Sie sich genauer beschäftigen wollen. Sie können sowohl auf die öffentlichen Medien (Kino, Werbung, Musikvideos, YouTube-Filme, Volksmusiksendungen, Zeitschriften, Grafitties, usw.) zurückgreifen, als auch Formen der Selbstrepräsentation in sozialen Netzwerken, Blogs usw. untersuchen

  • Inhalt ausklappen Inhalt einklappen Dr. Ingo Schröder: Politische Autorität in nicht-staatlichen Gesellschaften: Vom Headman zum politischen Funktionär im indianischen Amerika (held in German)Dr. Ingo Schröder: Politische Autorität in nicht-staatlichen Gesellschaften: Vom Headman zum politischen Funktionär im indianischen Amerika (held in German)

    Seminar

    Wednesday 2pm - 4pm

    Content: to come 

  • Inhalt ausklappen Inhalt einklappen Prof. Dr. Karl Braun: Die Writing Culture Debatte revisited (held in German)Prof. Dr. Karl Braun: Die Writing Culture Debatte revisited (held in German)

    Seminar

    Monday 10am - 12pm

    Content: to come

Subject: Sociology

Class Lists from Previous Semesters

Spring 2018

Fall 2017

Spring 2017

German Conversation Classes

The main goal of our Conversation Classes is to improve students' ability to communicate and interact in German. The classes focus on teaching students conversational techniques and strategies, improving students’ listening abilities, and strengthening students’ grasp of German grammar and vocabulary. The conversation classes will have the same language levels as the intensive German language classes.