DeZIM Spring School 2025

Abstract

The Spring School deals with the growing normalization of far-right ideologies in Germany and Europe and analyses their impact on (anti-)discrimination, (anti-)racism and social justice. The focus is on progressive movements and their strategies of resistance. In recent years, anti-racist actors and social movements have increasingly criticized the power structures that privilege certain social positions while marginalizing others. These movements have increased pressure in both public and private organizations to recognize diversity, combat intersectional marginalization and take steps towards inclusion.

The term "diversity" in particular has become a key concept - often as a buzzword, but also as a driving force for real change. But how exactly anti-discrimination and anti-racism should be anchored in social structures and organizations is a controversial topic. The seminar sheds light on the central questions: What is the meaning of terms such as "diversity", "intersectionality" or "anti-racism"? Who is included in these discourses and policies? How do these concepts relate to political agendas to combat discrimination and racism? And how can they be empirically measured and researched?

At a time when far-right ideologies are increasingly penetrating the social mainstream, progressive movements must not only forge new alliances, but also adapt their strategies to promote diversity and inclusion. The seminar opens up an intersectional perspective to analyze the multiple effects of discrimination on marginalized groups and to understand how social movements can respond to these challenges.

Participants will be provided with theoretical and methodological tools to examine the dynamics of diversity, (anti-)discrimination and (anti-)racism in organizations and society, as well as the dynamics of mobilization against far-right forces. In addition, in a practical part, a video "shorts" will be produced in group work and how academic content can be shared via social media channels such as TikTok will be discussed.

Structure

The Spring School deals with the theory, methods and transfer of research. It combines different teaching formats such as lectures, group tasks, own development of a video-short and individual exchange with national and international speakers. The methods section will introduce mixed-methods research designs, including survey designs and qualitative interviews and survey designs to explore diversity and anti-discrimination, social movements and protest, and the effects of the rise of the Far-Right. An exchange with practitioners will be organized. At the end of the Spring School, each participant will be expected to have contributed to and presented a short video to the group.

Prerequisites for participation

Master students of social sciences as well as early PhDs and related disciplines from the DeZIM Research Community and the Ruhr-University Bochum who are interested in the topics of the Spring School. Interested students must submit a short abstract (4-6 sentences) in which they express their interest(by 15.01.2025). The number of participants is limited to 35 students.

Participation in the online introduction in preparation for the Spring School on March 19. 16:00 -18:00 is obligatory.

We look forward to receiving your applications.
The DeZIM-Springschool Team