PPF - Past, Present, Future - Aspects of an integrative concept for social scientists

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• PAST
  • Biopolitical Destruction: The irrevocable consequences of genocide within 20th century.
  • The Politics of Denial - Genocide in 20th Century: The Meaning of the Turkish Case: Ideological Fiction & National Myth of “Modern Turkey” after the Destruction of The Ottoman Empire
  • International Terrorism at the End of the 20th Century: An Episode from Germany, 1998, or the First Hint for New Tendencies in International Terrorism - Privatezation & Sectezation ?
• PRESENT
  • 'Leading Culture in Germany': No chance for conservative minorstreaming within political culture in Germany at the beginning of the 21th century ? On possible reasons why the German Christian Union Party (CDU) instead of showing the willy drew in their horns, in Novembre, 2000
  • Social In/Justice: Neither 'moral outrage' nor 'mental surplus': In search of a good red herring...

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This text explores the concept of genocide and its social and political consequences, focusing on the Armenian genocide during World War I and the Turkish denial of the event. It also examines the rise of terrorism in the late 20th century and the implications of cultural shifts in Germany at the turn of the 21st century.

• Genocide and its biopolitical consequences
• The politics of denial and the construction of national myths
• The changing nature of terrorism
• Cultural shifts and the concept of 'Leitkultur' in Germany
• Social injustice and the search for a more just social order

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

The first chapter explores Raphael Lemkin's concept of genocide, arguing that its biopolitical dimension, particularly the irrevocable consequences over generations, is key to understanding the Armenian genocide. It examines the role of denial in perpetuating the genocide and the lasting impact on the Armenian diaspora.

The second chapter analyzes the politics of denial surrounding the Armenian genocide in Turkey, demonstrating how the narrative of "Modern Turkey" is constructed upon the foundation of the event's denial. It examines the historical development of this denial strategy and its impact on Turkish society.

The third chapter presents a case study of Islamist terrorism in Germany in 1998, suggesting a shift in the nature of terrorism towards private and sectarian actors. It emphasizes the importance of understanding the "unanticipatable consequences" of social action and the need to make invisible things more visible.

The fourth chapter examines the concept of "Leitkultur" in Germany and the reasons for the CDU's failure to establish a conservative cultural framework at the turn of the 21st century. It highlights the role of the media and the dominant discourse of political correctness in shaping the political agenda.

The fifth chapter delves into the concept of social injustice, exploring its relevance in contemporary Germany. It analyzes the "mental surplus" in society and the continuing struggle for a more just social order, despite structural obstacles like economic and political corruption.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

This text focuses on key concepts such as genocide, biopolitics, denial, terrorism, cultural shifts, Leitkultur, social injustice, and the role of social sciences in analyzing these phenomena. It explores historical events like the Armenian genocide and the emergence of Islamist terrorism, examining their social, political, and cultural implications. Key figures like Raphael Lemkin, Robert K. Merton, Barrington Moore, and Marie Jahoda are referenced throughout the text, providing a framework for understanding these complex themes.