Goethe University Frankfurt Part Of Two State-Funded Research Networks
What role does antisemitism play in hostility to democracy? And what impact can antisemitism-critical education have? These are the key questions addressed by the Hessian Knowledge Network “Antisemitism and Threats to Democracy”, jointly led by Goethe University Frankfurt, Justus Liebig University Giessen, and the Institute for Social Research. The project is funded by the Hessian Ministry of Science and Research, Arts and Culture (HMWK) until mid-2026. A second funded project, for which Goethe University serves as co-spokesperson alongside Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences, explores gender relations and democracy research.
Given that antisemitism is no longer merely expressed in veiled terms but increasingly out in the open – sometimes even serving as a unifying force for certain groups in times of crisis – it becomes clear: Antisemitism can no longer be understood solely as a remnant of Nazi ideology that must be overcome. It also plays a crucial role as an interim or bridge ideology linking with contemporary anti-democratic sentiments. Against this backdrop, the project “Antisemitism and Threats to Democracy” assumes that antisemitism plays a key role in the development and political mobilization of anti-democratic attitudes.
The HMWK is now supporting a knowledge network on “Antisemitism and Threats to Democracy” as part of its funding program “Strengthening Democracy Research in Hesse”. The network is based at Goethe University Frankfurt, Justus Liebig University Giessen, and the Institute for Social Research. As part of the 12-month project period, which ends in April 2026, an interdisciplinary research network at the intersection of antisemitism and democracy studies will be established. Among other topics, the network will examine the specific role antisemitism plays in the current dynamics of democratic erosion. It also seeks to explore how antisemitism-critical and democracy-promoting (educational) practices can effectively respond to these challenges.
The spokesperson of this research network – working in collaboration with nine additional partner institutions – is Prof. Stephan Lessenich, Chair of Social Theory and Social Research at Goethe University Frankfurt and Director of the Institute for Social Research.
The second funded research project, in which Goethe University is also a co-spokesperson, investigates how gender relations and democracy research can be more closely integrated and further developed. The knowledge network “Gendering Democratic Resilience: Gender Research as a Central Contribution to the (Re-)Vitalization of More Inclusive Democracies” (GeViDem) focuses on this goal. It brings together existing research initiatives and expertise in Hesse on the relationship between democracy and gender relations. The universities of Giessen, Marburg, Frankfurt, and Kassel, along with Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences, are collaborating on four key thematic areas, which include questions such as: In what ways are attacks on sexual and gender diversity also attacks on democracy? How do gender relations serve as a battleground for democratic resilience? And what role does the redistribution of care work play in democratizing democracy?
