Dossier

Divided Societies

Researchers show the historical dimension of divions

Societies have repeatedly experienced deep divisions throughout history: from the permanent civil wars in the ancient Greek world and the confessional differences in the early modern period, to the dictatorships and wars of the 20th century and the rise of the new right in the present day. Social, economic, religious and ethnic divisions have tested the foundations of social coexistence in all eras and regions of the world. Often, though, this has also led to these divisions developing in a positive way. The dossier “Divided Societies” shows the historical dimension of these divisions – from “hate speech” in antiquity, to the dark sides of the Peace of Westphalia in the early modern period, and to Catholic and Muslim parallel societies in the 19th century and today.

The issue of “Divided Societies” was the focus of the 52nd German Historians’ Day that was held at the University of Münster from 25 to 28 September 2018. The largest humanities conference in Europe saw around 3,500 academics from Germany and abroad discuss current research issues in more than 90 sections.

“In ancient Rome, insults in politics knew hardly any boundaries”

Political debates in ancient Rome were conducted with great harshness and personal attacks, which were in no way inferior to some of the hate speech on the Internet. “The attacks, also known as invectives, were an integral part of public life for senators of the Roman Republic,” explains ancient historian Prof. Dr. Martin Jehne of Technische Universität Dresden.

© Reinhold Eckstein, Universität Marburg/Milette Raats, Universität Utrecht

“The Peace of Westphalia also had its dark side”

According to historians, the Peaace of Westphalia 1648 also had its dark side. At Historians’ Convention in Münster historians discuss global historical dimensions, such as an intensive phase of colonization as a result of peace in Europe and debate whether the successful negotiations in Münster and Osnabrück can serve as a model for today’s peace processes in the Middle East.

“Divisions in society are nothing new historically”

According to historians, societies have repeatedly experienced deep divisions in history, not just since the current refugee crisis. At the 52nd Meeting of German Historians, in more than 90 panels, some 3,500 scientists from Germany and abroad will deal with current research on the multifaceted phenomena of social divisions.

Schäuble laments growing social division

Bundestag President Wolfgang Schäuble sees German society as being increasingly divided into “fearful” groups on the one hand, and “self-confident” groups on the other. In his speech at the opening of the 52nd German Historians’ Day, he said that social cohesion is under threat in many places, and that it is important to “make the inevitable changes bearable for everyone, to take people’s concerns seriously, and to convey confidence in the future”.