Antisemitism in 'PostOst' Migrant Societies: Experiences, Modes of Thematisation and Formations of Antisemitism in Ukrainian- and Russian-Speaking Migrant Milieux in Germany (AntOstMig)

The AntOstMig project investigates experiences, modes of thematization, and formations of Antisemitism in Jewish and non-Jewish Ukrainian- and Russian-speaking migrant milieux in Germany. Since February 24, 2022 – the commencement of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine – and October 7, 2023 – the Hamas terrorist attack on Israeli society – these communities have been shaped by profound political uncertainties. In this context, AntOstMig explores shifts in individual experiences of antisemitism, approaches to addressing it, and paradigmatic formations of Antisemitism circulating in social media that shape these milieux. The study also examines the ways Antisemitism is discussed and confronted in the so-called post-Ost migrant-influenced spheres of post-migrant civil society.

Three subprojects examine the experiences and experiential knowledge of Jewish participants. Second, we conduct a discourse-analytical evaluation of antisemitic images and discourse fragments in these groups’ social media, situating them within their historical and transnational developments. Third, we analyse focus group discussions with Jewish and non-Jewish actors in civil society organizations to identify knowledge systems, collective ways of addressing antisemitism, and lines of conflict and tension within the field. The project is being developed in close cooperation with civil society actors, who participate in the collaborative research process on knowledge systems and knowledge transfer in the spirit of participatory action research.

The project is part of the research network Antisemitism in the 21st Century (FoNA21)