"Choosing hope over fear." - Democracy and diversity in the U.S. and Germany

“We choose hope over fear”, Barack Obama once stated, “and we see the future as something we can shape for the better.” What does this mean considering the recent surge of populist movements and ideas in the U.S. and Germany? Many of the newly elected leaders raise doubts about the democratic process and reassert questions about national identity and mainstream culture. To what extent to these ideas – some might even refer to them as ideologies – challenge the concept of a truly diverse societies? Is this the world we have been hoping for? What can we do to change it? This project brings American and German students together to think about these burning issues, find new solutions, and get involved.