Abstract

After the fall of the Berlin Wall, the cultural and intellectual elites, supported by eminent representatives of the political class in Germany have intensively engaged themselves in deepening cultural relationship with the Muslim world. These efforts culminated in the inauguration of the monument of the Dialogue of Cultures in Weimar (July 2000).

Since 9/11 this process not only came to a halt, but was paralleled by a mood of alienation towards parts of the Muslim citizens within German society. In the light of recent events in the Middle East, there is no alternative to looking for paths back to the spirit of optimism, tolerance and constructive cultural engagement that have inspired cultural and political leaders in all segments of German society by the end of the last century.

Bio

Prof. Dr. Udo Steinbach is a specialist in Middle Eastern studies and leads the Maecenata Foundation’s MENA Study Centre. Particular attention is also given to the position of Muslims in Germany and to intercultural dialogue.

He completed his PHD at the University of Freiburg and was the Director of the German Orient Institute in Hamburg from 1976-2007, which, at the time, was the only research center for the present-day questions surrounding North Africa and the Middle East that was not affiliated with a university. He is the author of numerous works on the politics, society, economy and culture of the Arab world, Turkey, Iran, and the Caucasus.

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