Anlässlich des 250. Jahrestages der Unabhängigkeitserklärung der Vereinigten Staaten veranstalten das Leibniz-Institut für Europäische Geschichte (IEG) und das Obama Institute for Transnational American Studies an der Johannes Gutenberg Universität-Mainz (JGU) gemeinsam eine Buchvorstellung mit Podiumsdiskussion zum amerikanischen Nationalfeiertag.
Der international renommierte Amerikahistoriker Professor Dr. Philipp Gassert (Universität Mannheim) wird die zentralen Thesen seines jüngst im dtv-Verlag erschienenen Buches Die bipolare Nation. Was Amerika der Welt gegeben hat. Im Guten wie im Schlechten vorstellen. Mit ihm diskutieren der Direktor des Leibniz-Instituts für Europäische Geschichte, Professor Dr. Johannes Paulmann, und der Sprecher des Obama Institute for Transnational American Studies an der JGU, Professor Dr. Alfred Hornung.
Gerade im Jubiläumsjahr 2026 stellt sich die Frage, wie die Vereinigten Staaten ihre demokratischen Ideale, gesellschaftlichen Konflikte und globalen Führungsansprüche neu verhandeln. Vor dem Hintergrund aktueller politischer, gesellschaftlicher und kultureller Entwicklungen lädt der Veranstaltung dazu ein, die historischen Wurzeln der tiefen Polarisierungen in den USA zu verstehen und ihre Bedeutung für die Zukunft Amerikas und seiner Beziehungen zur Welt zu diskutieren.
USA at 250 – Reflecting on Democracy and Current Debates
Info Session for Planned Student Project Exhibition
July 6, 12:00-13:00 00.212 (Philo II, ground floor) Jakob-Welder-Weg 20
Work on what moves you!
As part of our event series on the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, we plan an exhibition of projects that explore current issues connected to U.S. democracy and society. Therefore, we are looking for student projects on these topics. Projects can include:
Posters about a research topic connected to U.S. democracy or the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence,
interactive displays for visitor engagement,
audio and video contributions,
creativewriting and art,
performances,
and more….
Find out more and join us for the info meeting:
July 6, 12:00-13:00 00.212 (Philo II, ground floor) Jakob-Welder-Weg 20
with Dr. Glenn Tiffert (Stanford U) and Ray Wong (activist, Hong Kong/Germany)
April 27, 2026, 2:30-4 pm Fakultätssaal (01-185), Philosophicum
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Navigating Engagement with China: Subnational Diplomacy and United Front Activities in Germany
How does the Chinese Communist Party seek to influence institutions and public discourse abroad and what does that mean for Germany?
In this expert briefing, Dr. Glenn Tiffert, a leading scholar of Chinese politics and influence operations, will examine the role of the Chinese Communist Party’s United Front Work Department and its activities beyond China’s borders. The United Front is a key instrument through which the CCP builds networks of influence among political, academic, business, and diaspora communities around the world. This program focuses specifially on how United Front activities intersect with institutions and stakeholders in Germany, including universities, business associations, local governments, and civil society. While awareness of CCP influence operations has grown at the federal level, many subnational actors, states, municipalities, chambers of commerce, and economic development agencies, remain particularly exposed due to limited resources and lower threat perception. Dr. Tiffert will explain how United Front networks operate, how influence activities are often embedded within legitimate engagement channels, and what practical steps institutions can take to assess and mitigate potential risks.
Additional perspectives will be offered by Ray Wong, democracy activist from Hong Kong, who will share insights into the broader context of CCP influence activities and their implications for democratic institutions.
Welcome JGU Vice President Prof. Dr. Stephan Jolie
Discussion Dr. Glenn Tiffert (Stanford U) and Ray Wong (activist, Hong Kong/Germany)
Q&A with audience
The event is organized by invitation of the U.S. Consulate General Frankfurt and in cooperation with the Obama Institute at JGU Mainz.
April 13, 2026, 2:15-3 pm Foyer P2-P5, Philosophicum
Exhibition open April 13-17.
History of U.S. Democracy: Looking Back in Uncertain Times
Posters | Podcasts | Videos | Social Media Posts
250 years after the Declaration of Independence—in times when U.S. democracy is increasingly under scrutiny—it is essential to turn to its historical conceptions in order to understand current issues and trends. The student projects in this exhibition shed light on historical developments and current debates in U.S. democracy in a variety of media formats.
Topics include:
History of populism
Media and propaganda
Free speech
Women’s roles in U.S. democracy
Language and democracy
The posters, podcasts, videos, and social media posts were produced by students of American Studies (M.A.) and English (M.Ed.) in the Cultural Studies course “The History of U.S. Democracy: Looking Back in Uncertain Times,” taught by Dr. Julia Velten. We are grateful to the Gutenberg Lehrkolleg (GLK) for funding the course as an innovative teaching project and thank the LeaF.Lab as well as the Zentrum für Audiovisuelle Produktion (ZAP) for their production support during the creation of the videos and podcasts. The exhibition is part of the Obama Institute event series on the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence “These Truths at 250”. Stay tuned for further event announcements.
Everyone welcome!
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You can download the poster for the exhibition here.
On March 31, Lois Burke and Kristie Blair (University of Sterling) will lead a discussion on “Research Directions in Manuscript Magazine Studies,” and on April 22, 2026, Oliver Scheiding, Sabina Fazli, and Frank Newton are invited to speak at the Stirling Magazines and Periodical Research Group, introducing Transnational, Indigenous, and Post-Digital Magazines Cultures.
Feb 5, 2026 – 16:00-18:00 Fakultätssaal, 01-185 (Philosophicum)
Exhibition
“Exploring Graphic Fiction”
Spätestens nach Art Spiegelmans Comic-Roman Maus über den Holocaust (seriell veröffentlicht zwischen 1980 und 1991) ist Graphic Fiction ein ernstzunehmendes Genre geworden. Von Mental Health über Gender und Identität bis hin zu aktuellen Themen wie Migration oder Fluchterfahrung – es gibt keine Fragen, die man nicht besprechen kann. Graphic Fiction-Romane ziehen uns in ihren Bann, weil sie in vielfarbigen, vermeintlich einfachen Bildern die unterschiedlichsten Themen ansprechen. Wie nicht zuletzt die japanischen Mangas zeigen, zirkulieren diese Comic-Romane dabei global. Auch deshalb sind sie in den USA genauso relevant und viel gelesen wie bei uns in Deutschland.
Everyone welcome!
16:00 Opening | Introduction Prof. Dr. Mita Banerjee (Course Leader) Prof. Dr. Alfred Hornung (Speaker of the Obama Institute for Transnational American Studies)
followed by Poster Presentations | Reception
Topics:
Identity and Young Adult Fiction in Heartstopper
American Dream, American Identity in Malika Gharib’s I Was Their American Dream
Neurodiversity in the Manga Frieren
Flashbacks as a Tool for Empathy in the Manga Demon Slayer
Closeted Queerness and the Father-Daughter Relationship in Alison Bechdel’s Fun Home
Visual Narrative and How to Teach the Holocaust in Art Spiegelman’s Maus
Disability and Deaf Culture in Cece Bell’s El Defo
Die hier ausgestellten studentischen Beiträge beruhen auf einer Cultural Studies-Übung mit dem Titel „Current Topics in Graphic Fiction“, die im Wintersemester 2025/26 an der JGU Mainz in der Amerikanistik unter der Leitung von Prof. Dr. Mita Banerjee (mita.banerjee@uni-mainz.de) stattfand.
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You can download the poster for the exhibition here.
