Project leaders: Dr Lydia Potts, Prof. Dr Silke Wenk, Prof. Dr Ilse Dröge-Modelmog

Research Assistant: Martina Kamp (MA)

Duration: 1 April 2002 – 31 December 2003

The events of 11 September 2001 formed one of the starting points for this interdisciplinary project (cultural studies, sociology, political science, history, Islamic Studies) were the events of 11 September 2001, the reception of which highlighted the need to develop theoretical foundations for transcultural research into violence. The main focus was on exploring the manifold fractures and ambivalences in the relationship between modernity, violence and gender. In this context, the central areas of inquiry examined were, on the one hand, the specific intertwining of gender and violence in modern nation states and, on the other hand, the questions concerning the perspectives and positions of power from which and through which violence is discussed. For these structure the way we think about what is designated (and scandalised) as violence in each instance, or what disappears from perception and is thus negated, whereby cultural and geopolitical contexts must also be taken into account.

Key publications:

Kamp, Martina/Motakef, Mona/Potts, Lydia/Rohde, Achim/Wenk, Silke (2003): Gender Constructions and Violence. A Literature Review, Project Gender Constructions and Violence, Oldenburg

Potts, Lydia/Wenk, Silke (2002): “Gender Constructions and Violence – Ambivalences of Modernity in the Process of Globalisation: Towards an Interdisciplinary and International Research Network”. In: Signs 28/1, 459–462

Lectures:

• Summer semester 2003
• Winter semester 2002/03
• Summer semester 2002

Workshop:

• Winter semester 2003/04