Die zwei Seiten des Gemeinschaftsdünkels. Zum antisemitischen Gehalt freiheitlicher Identitätspolitik im Wandel

Ausgehend von der Annahme eines inneren Zusammenhanges zwischen Deutschnationalismus, profanisierter Heilserwartung und (völkischer) Gemeinschaftsideologie auf der einen und Antisemitismus auf der anderen Seite wird im vorliegenden Aufsatz versucht, diesen Zusammenhang am Beispiel nationalfreiheitlicher Identitätspolitik seit Ende des 19. Jahrhunderts herauszuarbeiten. Bis 1945 wurde der Antisemitismus als integraler Bestandteil des Deutschnationalismus und der Volksgemeinschaftsideologie offen propagiert, danach jedoch weitgehend auf die politische Hinterbühne verbannt. Zudem machen es die zahlreichen identitätspolitischen Schwenks der FPÖ schwer, die Kontinuität im Ausschluss aus der zuerst christlichen, dann deutschen, österreichischen und schließlich wieder christlichen (und immer bedrohten) Gemeinschaft im dualen oder dichotomischen Muster des völkischen Antisemitismus zu erkennen. Anhand aktueller Beispiele antisemitischer Agitation aus den Reihen der seit 2005 auch in programmatischer Hinsicht wieder deutschnationalen und völkischen FPÖ soll abschließend die These von der Unmöglichkeit einer (christlichen und/ oder deutschnationalen) Volksgemeinschaftsideologie, die frei von Antisemitismus wäre, illustriert werden

Solange Juden nicht frei sind, ist niemand frei … : Interview mit Andreas Peham

Andreas Peham ist Rechtsextremismusforscher, Antisemitismusexperte und Mitarbeiter des „Dokumentationsarchivs des österreichischen Widerstandes“ (DÖW). Im Interview, das Aaron Kumnig und Ariel Simulevski für diese Schwerpunktausgabe der MEDIENIMPULSE zu Antisemitismus geführt haben, gibt er Einblick in seine Arbeit und den aktuellen Stand der Antisemitismusforschung. Dabei geht es auch um sein neues Buch „Kritik des Antisemitismus“, das 2022 im Verlag Schmetterling erschienen ist.Andreas Peham is researcher in the field of right-wing extremism, anti-Semitism expert and employee of the “Documentation Centre of Austrian Resistance” (DÖW). In an interview conducted by Aaron Kumnig and Ariel Simulevski for this special issue of MEDIENIMPULSE on anti-Semitism, he provides an insight into his work and the current state of anti-Semitism research. He also discusses his new book “Critique of anti-Semitism” which was edited by publisher Schmetterling in 2022

Solange Juden nicht frei sind, ist niemand frei …

Andreas Peham ist Rechtsextremismusforscher, Antisemitismusexperte und Mitarbeiter des „Dokumentationsarchivs des österreichischen Widerstandes“ (DÖW). Im Interview, das Aaron Kumnig und Ariel Simulevski für diese Schwerpunktausgabe der MEDIENIMPULSE zu Antisemitismus geführt haben, gibt er Einblick in seine Arbeit und den aktuellen Stand der Antisemitismusforschung. Dabei geht es auch um sein neues Buch „Kritik des Antisemitismus“, das 2022 im Verlag Schmetterling erschienen ist

Methyl-binding domain protein-based DNA isolation from human blood serum combines DNA analyses and serum-autoantibody testing

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Circulating cell free DNA in serum as well as serum-autoantibodies and the serum proteome have great potential to contribute to early cancer diagnostics via non invasive blood tests. However, most DNA preparation protocols destroy the protein fraction and therefore do not allow subsequent protein analyses. In this study a novel approach based on methyl binding domain protein (MBD) is described to overcome the technical difficulties of combining DNA and protein analysis out of one single serum sample.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Serum or plasma samples from 98 control individuals and 54 breast cancer patients were evaluated upon silica membrane- or MBD affinity-based DNA isolation via qPCR targeting potential DNA methylation markers as well as by protein-microarrays for tumor-autoantibody testing.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In control individuals, an average DNA level of 22.8 ± 25.7 ng/ml was detected applying the silica membrane based protocol and 8.5 ± 7.5 ng/ml using the MBD-approach, both values strongly dependent on the serum sample preparation methods used. In contrast to malignant and benign tumor serum samples, cell free DNA concentrations were significantly elevated in sera of metastasizing breast cancer patients. Technical evaluation revealed that serum upon MBD-based DNA isolation is suitable for protein-array analyses when data are consistent to untreated serum samples.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>MBD affinity purification allows DNA isolations under native conditions retaining the protein function, thus for example enabling combined analyses of DNA methylation and autoantigene-profiles from the same serum sample and thereby improving minimal invasive diagnostics.</p

Potentials for improving the socioeconomic situation of Ghanaian cocoa farmers: The role of sustainability initiatives

Based on a longstanding colonial history of unequal exchange between the Global North and South, cocoa-based products and in particular chocolate nowadays belong to the staples of household consumption in many countries of the Global North, including in the European Union (EU). But only since the late 1990s has a public debate emerged that raises critical questions about the economic, social and ecological sustainability of cocoa production in the producer countries, located mostly in Africa and Latin America. Civil society organizations in particular raised the issue of child labor in cocoa bean cultivation, the low income of cocoa-producing smallholders and the lack of social infrastructure, and started to exert pressure on companies. At the same time, chocolate-producing companies became concerned about declining cocoa production against the backdrop of strongly increasing demand. Since then, some 25 years have passed and the cocoa and chocolate sector has seen many initiatives aiming both to increase productivity, to tackle sustainability issues, and to enhance the quality of life of cocoa farmers and people in cocoa communities. According to a variety of studies and evaluations, achievements - especially when measured against the aspirations - so far have delivered mixed results at best. Particularly critical voices even speak of two decades of failed interventions. Civil society initiatives, but also many corporations have increased their advocacy for the introduction of binding public rules with respect to the due diligence responsibilities of companies active in the cocoa-chocolate global value chain (GVC). Given similar problems in many other global value chains (e.g., in textiles & apparel, coffee, palm-oil etc.), an initiative for the introduction of a Europe-wide due diligence regulation has recently resulted in a legislative proposal on corporate due diligence by the European Commission, presented to the public in February 2022. With the discussion on the legislative proposal still ongoing at the time of writing this report, the legislation will undoubtedly have important consequences for the cocoa-chocolate GVC. An assessment of the successes and failures of initiatives to promote the sustainability of the cocoa-chocolate GVC with the aim to identify key conclusions and recommendations might thus be both timely and useful for the current policy discussion on binding rules for corporate responsibility in global value chains. Based on an overview of both the global cocoa-chocolate value chain and the specifics of the cocoa industry in Ghana as well as the associated sustainability issues, this report provides a comprehensive review of sustainability initiatives in the cocoa-chocolate GVC initiated during the last 20 years with a specific focus on the socioeconomic situation of cocoa farmers and their communities in Ghana. The review includes both civil society and private sector-led initiatives, as well as state-led initiatives, both in Ghana as one of two major global producer countries and in the EU as a major global consumer. On the basis of this overview, we then proceed to assess the relative successes and shortcomings of the initiatives. We point to limitations, while also identifying best-practices and promising developments. In methodological terms, the assessment is based on expert interviews and a literature review. The report concludes with four recommendations