PLATFORM WORLD REGIONS AND INTERACTIONS                                   Area Studies, Transregionally

Area Studies, or the study of world regions, have gained recognition over the last decades all over the world. It is not only since 9/11, 2001 but following the massive societal and political developments in the wake of global movements of migration, making up what is commonly called globalization that knowledge of other cultures and societies has become more important than ever. This is exactly the kind of knowledge that Area Studies can provide. The historical approach to Area Studies at the University of Erfurt has here an advantage over sociological and political approaches which more often than not let globalization begin with 1989. Yet, these developments pose new challenges also for Area Studies. While it is still important to study and teach world regions individually, mutual encounters, entanglements and processes of exchange and negotiation now need to be focused on. Area Studies, understood in this new way, have been declared a priority for German universities by the Wissenschaftsrat in 2006. The platform “World Regions and Interactions: Area Studies, Transregionally” has the goal to channel and promote regional competence and activities at the University of Erfurt and beyond and create a network of interested researchers and research groups.

Speaker

Representatives