Center for German and European Studies

Research Project

DAAD Project (2013-2022)

Chung-Ang University's DAAD-Center for German and European Studies established "Research on Modern Germany's System and Life-world" as the DAAD-Center's main project for the next ten years.

This project does not simply lay out the features of certain regions for comprehensive studies of the area based on regional background; instead, it focuses on examining the cross-organizational structure of the life-world in various dimensions. Most sociologists and social scientists know that 'system' and 'life-world' are the core concepts of Habermas' Theory of Communicative Action. We believe that these concepts can be effectively used in analyzing specific social systems. The concept of the 'system' allows us to effectively and rationally integrate various behaviors in institutional areas, such as politics and economics. The 'life-world' relates to a specific time and place in which members of a particular society have communicative interactions. The activities behind this concept of life-world set the ground in composing personal and social identities and creating a consensual norm in the society.

The life-world, in which the system's efficiency is verified, requires the reconstruction of the system, while the system reflects the need of the life-world in making changes. Thus, it can be said that, on the whole, a society reflects the relationship between the system and the life-world. This research, which began with the premise that Germany is built up on the cycle of the system and the life-world, strives to examine contemporary Germany through the relationship of these two ideas, looking at their intimately connected dynamics.

Our analysis of the complex and intimately connected relationship between the macroscopic 'system' and the microscopic 'life-world' will involve collaborations with scholars in other fields (Philosophy, History, Cultural Studies, Literature, Sociology, Politics, Economics, Law, etc.). We hope that the accomplishment of this research will help other academics in an interactive and productive way to use our work as a research model for their own German and European Studies.

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(2007~2008) Project

Date	2007 ~ 2008
Topic	Contemporary German Literature Running on "Lightness": Is It a Challenge or a Play?
Field	National Research Foundation of Korea, Basic Study Development Support Project Humanities and sociology Research Division
pType	"Young" German Literature is running at high speed these days. Compared to the more abstract, difficult and serious traditional German literature, the new-generation authors are presenting more fun, light, and "Cool" writing which is becoming more and more popular throughout the world. By projecting its awareness of the "serious" problems in current society through rather "light-hearted" writing tactics, these more recent writers are mixing the artistic with the popular, making their writing widely and easily readable. Such a trend is a new cultural phenomenon in German literature that has never been seen before. Also, these writers' blurring of the line between "Serious" and 'Popular' literature is rapidly changing the basic ground of German literature altogether. Considering this movement is a challenge to the German academic world which is in need of special attention.

(2006~2007) Project

Date	2006 ~ 2007
Topic	Censorship and Self-Censorship in Digital-Age Literature
Field	National Research Foundation of Korea, Basic Study Development Support Project Humanities and Social Science Research Division
pType	This research, with its focal point around German literature, examines how censorship and self-censorship operate in today's culture of the Internet and multimedia, and looks deeper into the methods of authors' self-censorship while breaking the long-held cultural taboo of commercializing themselves. Research on the transformation of the authors' roles and functions allows for a critical examination of the external factors involved in this shift, as well as the structure of the cultural change (??more specific).

(2005~2007) Project

Date	2005 ~ 2007
Topic	Summary of Fifteen Years of Cultural Transformation After Germany's (Re)Unification
Field	National Research Foundation of Korea, Basic Study Development Support Project Humanities and Social Science Research Division
pType	It is said that history cannot be known ahead of time. However, currently, a historically unprecedented event is taking place in Germany. Coming from the same language and cultural root, one nation was split for 40 years, with conflicting ideologies, values and with different ways of thinking and lifestyle. Now, after their unification, they are experiencing cultural transformations. These cultural transformations resulting from Germany's unification may set a historical example for the unification of Korea. Thus, they require special attention.

(2003~2005) Project

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Date	2003 ~ 2005
Topic	Research on the Social and Cultural Conflicts of East and West Germany After their Unification
Field	National Research Foundation of Korea, Basic Study Development Support Project Humanities and Social Science Research Division
pType	The thirteen years after German reunification (1990-2003?) can be said to consist of successful political and economic integration and failed social and cultural integration. Today, Germany is facing severe cultural and social separations which suggest a change of perspective on Korea's unification. The reality of Germany's history since unification should awaken Korean scholars and government leaders to the fact that Korea needs to conduct more social and cultural research into its own reunification.