Project Work I: Afghans in Germany: Diaspora Formation, Transnational Networks and Refugee Mobilities
Stefan Schütte
Kommentar
Germany hosts the largest Afghan diaspora community in Europe. However, deeper engagements with Afghan lifeworlds in Germany and how these are shaped within contexts of multiple insecurities remain relatively underexplored. This project module, structured into two interconnected classes followed by a dedicated period of empirical fieldwork, aims to bridge this gap. The module has two primary goals: a) to enable deeper insights into the experiences and dynamics of Afghan diasporas in Germany, grounded in historical, social, and political contextualizations, and b) to develop and conduct empirical research projects based on sound conceptual and methodological frameworks.
The module consists of three interconnected classes:
The 'Contextual Class' class will explore the global, regional and local politics of external interventions and prolonged Afghan warfare (1978-2021), and their far-reaching effects on Afghan society and migration strategies.
In the 'Project Class' students work in small teams to design their own research projects. We will address certain conceptual ideas around diaspora studies, transnationalism, and refugee mobility but students are free to select and develop their own concrete research topic. Emphasis will be placed on formulating clear research questions, identifying appropriate analytical frameworks, and devising workable qualitative methodologies. Projects may also be informed by collaborations with Afghan civil society organizations in Germany, offering opportunities for practical engagement and mutual learning.
In the 'Empirical Class' students will carry out their empirical fieldwork, putting their research designs into practice. Fieldwork may involve conducting interviews, participant observation, and analyzing cultural practices or socio-economic networks.
The combination of historical contextualization, collaborative project design, and hands-on fieldwork equips participants with practical and analytical tools to explore the multifaceted experiences of Afghan diasporas in Germany.
14 Termine
Regelmäßige Termine der Lehrveranstaltung