Journal Article — Catching Up with the (New) West: The German “Excellence Initiative,” Area Studies, and the Re-Production of Inequality — by Manuela Boatcã

$15.00

In the context of the Bologna Process of neoliberal European university reform, the German authorities have recently promoted an “Excellence Initiative” which has defined as one key objective the promotion of area studies. However, these initiatives may also in some cases open up new spaces for the development of critical approaches to migration studies and ethnic and racial studies, from a more subaltern perspective, with openings to critical gender studies and attention to minority politics.

PDF4 for simple products

This publication can be read online by logged-in members of OKCIR Library with a valid access. In that case just click on the large PDF icon at the bottom of this page to access the publication. Alternatively, you can purchase this publication as offered below.

Description

Abstract

In the context of the Bologna Process of neoliberal European university reform, the German authorities have recently promoted an “Excellence Initiative” which has defined as one key objective the promotion of area studies. To the extent that such initiatives constitute a more modestly funded imitation of existing U.S. programs and share their affinity with evolutionist modernization theories and their instrumental function in orienting elite strategy, they operate as a vector of “re-Westernization” of the German university. However, these initiatives may also in some cases open up new spaces for the development of critical approaches to migration studies and ethnic and racial studies, from a more subaltern perspective, with openings to critical gender studies and attention to minority politics.

Recommended Citation

Boatcã, Manuela. 2012. “Catching Up with the (New) West: The German “Excellence Initiative,” Area Studies, and the Re-Production of Inequality.” Pp. 17-29 in Decolonizing the University: Practicing Pluriversity (Human Architecture: Journal of the Sociology of Self-Knowledge: Volume X, Issue 1, 2012.) Belmont, MA: Okcir Press (an imprint of Ahead Publishing House).

The various editions of Decolonizing the University: Practicing Pluriversity can be ordered from the Okcir Store and are also available for ordering from all major online bookstores worldwide (such as Amazon, Barnes&Noble, and others).


Read the Above Publication Online

To read the above publication online, you need to be logged in as an OKCIR Library member with a valid access. In that case just click on the large PDF icon below to access the publication. Make sure you refresh your browser page after logging in.



NEW IN OKCIR'S MONOGRAPH SERIES

Page visits since 2020 —>127
Page visits today —> 0