Course background

Antisemitism in Austria has a long history going back to the early Middle Ages, having had a presence in civic life throughout the centuries, culminating in the Holocaust. After WW2 antisemitism ensued with revised vigor (Wodak, 2011), even though Austria no longer has a Jewish population of any significance ("antisemitism without Jews": Benzl & Marin, 1983) and antisemitism was partially outlawed and officially frowned upon ("antisemitism without antisemites": Marin, 1980). Antisemitism manifests itself in the popular culture and in everyday language, in local and national politics as well as in the media - targeting a community numbering only c.10,000 (Staetsky & DellaPergola, 2020) but with a much wider presence in the Austrian national psyche. The latest Austrian Parliament survey on Antisemitism (2021) suggests the continuous widespread prevalence of antisemitism, while the tiny Jewish population reports growing concern of their safety (DellaPergola, 2021).

Learning outcomes

Students will acquire the knowledge how to study covert and under-researched issues at work, through the lens of antisemitic attitudes and behavior in Austria. Working in teams, they will develop awareness to discriminatory behavior, its manifestations, implications and consequences. In the process they will learn how to design and execute methodologies exploring sensitive issues and build the confidence to reflect critically on issues of equality, diversity and ethics. The course language is English and teamwork will involve exchange students.

Attendance requirements

≥ 80%

Teaching/learning methods

This course has the character of a research workshop. Work is done interactively, in plenary sessions and in teams. Students will probe into actual and perceived workplace expressions of antisemitism, including: direct and indirect discrimination, verbal abuse, bullying; antisemitic attitudes and beliefs; xenophobia as a generalised worldview; antisemitic expressions in public discourse, as reflected in institutional policies and institutionalised antisemitism.

Assessment

Based partially on individual knowledge assessment and principally via project team assessment.