International Conference
Thursday, 1. Juli till Friday, 2. Juli 2004, Trier
Saturday, 3. Juli 2004, Exkursion to Dudelange
Alienation/ Racism/ Interculturality.
Interaction and Communication in Processes of Migration
Organizer: Institute for Regional and Migration Research (IRM)
Heinrich-Boell-Foundation RLP
Conference languages: German and English
For information and contact:
Institute for Regional and Migrational Research (IRM)
contact@irm-trier.de,
www.irm-trier.de
Migratory processes are always considered as various processes of
encounters, of mental, cultural and social exchanges. By means of migration,
new communicative relationships can begin to exist and new social, cultural
and political actions can develop. However, the encounters within migratory
processes do not come about without preconditions. The European mind-set
associated with non-European cultures was heavily determined by colonialism.
The spread of European dominance of the world resulted in the formation of
mentality structures in Europe which are still valid today. The contact with
the foreign and the ‘Other’ is determined above all by forms of hierarchies
and dominance. These can be found both in the concepts of ‘culture’ and in
the perceptions of ‘race.’ This becomes apparent especially in new forms of
racism, which leave the biological constructions of ‘race’ behind and are
based on the cultural constructions of ‘race,’ which promote the
invariability of cultural features and imprinting.
In the context of this conference, the close interrelation of alienation,
racism and interculturality will be dealt with: Which types of hierarchies
exist in particular contexts? How did they come into existence? Which times
of new developments can be observed? Which special forms of gender
stereotypical classifications and hierarchies can be revealed? How is
alienation constructed, what are the reasons for it, and what consequences
does alienation have on foreigners?
The terms of interculturalism and of multiculturalism also will be
examined critically, as they are often employed in a positive sense to
counter racism. However, do they not themselves contribute to transporting
images of cultures as being homogenous and already clear-cut? And don't they
reproduce them as well? What are the mechanisms that become apparent in the
area of cultural and social hegemony and change the ‘intercultural discourse’
into a discourse on power and dominance?
During the conference, we will deal with and discuss what measures and
actions can contribute to abolishing existing mechanisms of hierarchies and
exclusion.
Thursday, 1. July 2004
2:00 p.m.
Welcoming Address and Opening of the Conference,
Thomas Geisen, M. A. Sociologist (Institute for Regional- and
Migration-Research (IRM))
2:00-6:00 p.m
- Prof. Dr. Alois Hahn (Universität Trier): “About the Significance of
the Foreign for the Construction of the Self”
- Prof. Dr. Christoph Antweiler (Universität Trier): “Interculturalism
and Ethnification. About the Consequences of Dissolving the Term of
Culture.“
- Prof. Dr. Ursula Apitzsch (Universität Frankfurt): “Migration and
Hegemonial Culture. Critical Thoughts Following Antonio Gramsci”
- Thomas Geisen, M. A. (Institute for Regional and Migrational Research
(IRM)): “Migration, Identity and Hidden Dominance”
7:30 p.m.
Opening of the exhibition “Little Italy” in Luxembourg.
Introduction:
Antoinette Reuter and Christian Kandzia (Centre de Documentation sur les
Migrations humaines, Dudelange)
Music:
Mannijo – « Lidder iwer d’ Grenzen / Chansons transfrontiéres/ Lieder
über die Grenzen ! » Jo Nousse and Manfred Pohlmann will perform songs
together leaving geographical borders behind: They sing in German, French,
but mostly in Moselfränkisch. There will be some songs in Catalan, Occitan,
Yiddish .
8:00 p.m. evening lecture
- Prof. Dr. Birgit Rommelspacher (Berlin): “About the Relationship of
Alienation, Racism and Interculturality”
Friday, 2. July 2004
9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
- Prof. Dr. Peter Marcuse (Columbia University, New York): “Ambivalent
Relations between Planning and Segregation. How Does/Can Planning
Influence, Restrain and Overcome Cultural and Ethnic Segregation?”
- Jürgen Staadt, M. Eng (Trier): “Minorities and Interculturality:
Solving Societal Problems through Interdisciplinary Co-operation”
- Paola Sannino (Queen’s University, Belfast): ”Approach to the Modern
Western World. Russian-Yiddish Press at the End of the 19th and at the
beginning of the 20th centuries”
- Ane Kleine, M. A. (IRM): „The Invention of the Argentinean Shtetl.
Cultural Adaptation and Segregation of Jewish Migrants in Argentina”
- Claude Wey (Centre de Documentation sur les Migrations humaines,
Dudelange): “The Luxembourgian ‘ArgentinienfahrerInnen’ in the 19th
Century: Migrants in the Field of Tension of Ideological Currents”.
3;00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
- Prof. Dr. Sinan Özbek (Istanbul): “Thoughts on Racism in Turkey”
- Rena Danailove (Bulgaria): “Image of Self and Image of the Other:
Teaching Respect for Rom Ethnic Diversity in Bulgaria“
- Prof. Dr. Phil Cohen: (University of East London): “Racism and
Anti-Racism in the Paedagogical Debate”
- Dr. Piero Galloro/ Pascal Tisserant (Université de Metz):
“Acculturation of Italian Immigrants in Lorain. Results from a
Socio-historical and Psycho-sociological Research Project in the
Cross-border-region Belgium-Luxemburg-France”
- Maria Wurm, M. A. (Universität Bochum): “Salsa-bars and Turkish discos.
About Social Hierarchies and Racism in the Acceptance of ‘Ethno-pop
Cultures.’”
Saturday, 3 July 2004
10:00 a.m.
Excursion to Dudelange, Luxembourg Departure from Trier
11.00 a.m.
Welcoming in the Centre de Documentation sur les Migrations humaines,
then sightseeing tour of «Little Italy » (part of town of Dudelange)
approx. 2:00 p.m.
return journey to Trier
Exhibition and Excursion
“Little Italy” in Luxembourg – an exhibition of the Centre de
Documentation sur les Migrations humaines
1 July – 15 July 2004, VHS-Bildungszentrum / People's University,
Education Centre
opening hours: Mo, Tu, Fr, 12:00 – 5:00 p.m., Wed 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
“Little Italy” is a small section in the Luxembourgian city of Dudelange.
It mirrors the rise and fall of the steel industry, which shaped the region
for about 100 years. “Little Italy” can provide an insight both into the
development of the extraction of ore and the industrial steel processing
production as well as the living conditions of the people who settled close
to their workplaces. First came migrants from Italy. Then migrants from
Portugal followed. Today it is their influence that is predominant in this
neighborhood. Everywhere in this space, one can sense that the residents
have brought along their heritage of culture, customs, and traditions.
This photo exhibition – in an unusual panorama format - provides
impressions of the world and living conditions of these migrants and focuses
both on their daily lives and on special events.
Institute for Regional and Migration Research (IRM)
As part of the activities of the Institute for Regional and Migration
Research (IRM), the causes, conditions and results of migration processes
will be examined. Migration is understood to be a social fact, which is
subject to structural conditions - politically and economically - and is
also actively formed as a result of subjective processes of decision.
Therefore, the network of interdependent relationships arising from
migration will be examined and charted concretely in terms of specific
structural regions and areas of activity. This investigation will be
conducted in connection with a program of interdisciplinary research. In
addition, through seminars and the publication of a series of books by the
Frankfurter IKO-Verlag, the actual results of such regional and migration
research will be presented and made accessible to researchers and the
general public.
Venue:
VHS-Bildungszentrum / People's University, Education Centre
Palais Walderdorff/ Domfreihof 1b, 54224 Trier, Germany
Contact:
Institut for Regional and Migration Research (IRM)
contact@irm-trier.de,
www.irm-trier.de
Participants in the international conference and planned excursion should
be registered in advance via email: contact@irm-trier.de), As part of the
registration process, conference fee of 15 EURO should be remitted (please
transfer to the account of the Heinrich Böll Stiftung RLP (Sparkasse
Mittelhardt Deutsche Weinstraße, BLZ 546 512 40, Kto.Nr. 151 253 70)
Organzizers:
Institut für Regional- und Migrationsforschung (IRM)
Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung RLP
Co-operation partners are :
- Centre de Documentation sur les Migrations humaines (Luxemburg)
- Volkshochschule der Stadt Trier
- DGB Region Trier
- Universität Trier, FB IV Ethnologie
- Universität Trier, FB II Japanologie
- Internationales Zentrum an der Universität Trier
- Akademisches Auslandsamt der Universität Trier
- ASTI – Association de Soutien aux Travailleurs Immigrés (Luxemburg)
- Umdenken hbs Hamburg
- Bildungswerk Berlin der hbs
The conference is part of the nation-wide project “Culture, Identity and
Politics” in which Heinrich Boell Foundation offices in various federal
states in Germany and the Heinrich Boell Foundation of the Federal Republic
of Germany cooperate.
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