The European Politics & Society Workshop is a monthly, interdisciplinary forum for discussing work in progress. This month the workshop welcomes Dr. Markus Kaim, the DAAD’s German Chair at the University of Toronto for 2007-08. Attendees of the workshop will discuss his paper “Germany, Afghanistan and the Future of NATO.” (CONTINUE READING)

In the wake of a recent string of “breakthrough” election results for Germany’s Left Party, Prof. Frank Deppe and Ingar Solty will reflect on the way in which these outcomes are transforming the political scene in both Germany and Europe.

Frank Deppe is a Professor-Emeritus at Germany’s Marburg University and has been one of the leading Marxist intellectuals and political activists in West Germany since the 1960’s. Prof. Deppe has published extensively on labour, politics, Eurocapitalism and the global political economy. (CONTINUE READING)

The Comparative Research in Law & Political Economy Network (Osgoode) and CCGES are pleased to co-present the 2008 Pierre Genest Distinguished Lecture by Professor David Trubek, Voss-Vascom Professor of Law and Senior Fellow at the Center for World Affairs and the Global Economy (WAGE), University of Wisconsin Law School. (CONTINUE READING)

This year’s Munk-Goethe Writer in Residence is German-Croatian author Jagoda Marinić. Born in Waiblingen (Germany) in 1977, Marinić studied German, English and political sciences in Heidelberg and now works as an author, dramatist and journalist dividing her time between New York and Heidelberg. At this event, Ms Marinić will read in German and English from her first novel “The Nameless”, a gentle picture of love paired with grief, aspiration and subtle humour. (CONTINUE READING)

As part of the CCGES Film Series, we are pleased to present a free screening of director Hans Weingartner’s highly acclaimed film, “The Edukators”. This German–Austrian co-production is a humorous and thought- provoking work which tells the story of Jan and Peter, two young Germans in their mid twenties with disdain for the inequalities they see in the society surrounding them. Impatient with demonstrating and distributing leaflets, they turn instead to direct action, breaking into the empty homes of Berlin’s rich to teach them a lesson. The pair steal nothing, but leave behind creative chaos including scribbled slogans such as “the days of plenty are numbered”. When Peter’s girlfriend Jule joins the group for one of their expeditions, however, the group unexpectedly encounters a homeowner and find themselves forced to consider the relationship between their beliefs and actions.

Professors Susan Ingram and Christina Kraenzle will introduce this film and facilitate a discussion after the screening. (CONTINUE READING)