EPRIE - HOW TO MAKE IT WORK FOR SOCIAL CHANGE
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EPRIE
2019
www.eprie.net
Journal for Regional Integration
in East Asia and Europe
Overcoming the challenges
posed by
social media:
HOW
TO MAKE IT WORK FOR
SOCIAL CHANGE
?
Editorial It has been a long journey, and of and Korea 2019, also comes a new be- of standards on how much a single course everything has to come to an ginning, and it is only up to us alumni human life is worth talking about. end somehow and somewhere. With to bring into existence and facilitate Against this backdrop, there defin- the end of the financial support by this new beginning of EPRIE with itively is a critical need in “Turning the Robert Bosch Stiftung 2021, the our own ideas, efforts and engage- Numbers (back) into Names” as the EPRIE alumni projects are even more ment, as various subsequent alumni film “#387”, co-written and produced important to keep together the spirit projects in 2020 already have been by Cécile Debarge (EPRIE 2019), behind the idea of EPRIE, as well as shown. In doing so, the EPRIE Jour- suggests. the people that are connected to it. nal might also be at least one small In this regard, the “EPRIE Journal step in this direction. In a similar vein, Robel Afeworki for Regional Integration in East Asia Abay (EPRIE 2016) is also point- and Europe” should be considered as Following the theme of EPRIE 2018 ing to a concrete gap in visibility in a multifunctional hub that not only on “Media in Times of Populism and research and public discourse when provides a platform for internal ex- Post-Truth Politics”, the central topic it comes to disabled BIPoC (Black, change between the participants and of 2019 was “Overcoming the chal- Indigenous and people of color) in speakers of EPRIE but also granting lenges posed by social media: How his highly sophisticated “Intersec- strong visibility in printed and digital to make it work for social change?”. tional Analysis of Ethnic Disparities form to carry the ideas and outcomes Against this background, the initial in Contemporary Education and the of EPRIE to a broader external pub- article by Albert Denk (EPRIE 2016) Labour Market in Germany”. Not be- lic. Furthermore, the EPRIE Journal “The Normality of Letting Refugees ing visible can be understood hereby can also be seen as a bridge into a Die” can be seen as a wake-up call in as a stigma that not only often goes new era in which the EPRIE alumni pointing to a tremendous humanitar- hand in hand with marginalization are forced to emancipate themselves ian catastrophe in the Mediterrane- but even more so on fostering the so- from the EPRIE program altogether. an Sea, and how social and leading cial, political, economic and cultural This means for all of us inclined to media shaping their own realties of exclusion of disabled BIPoC. The this new era of not having an annual awareness in reporting – or rather strength of Abay’s analysis lies in his EPRIE program, we must find new not reporting – about it. In his very intersectional approach of identify- ways of cooperation, connectivity detailed analyses on the deaths of ref- ing the double discrimination that and organizational progress. There- ugees at the European border, Denk disabled BIPoC are confronted with fore, with the end of the last EPRIE shows that different forms of media and maintained by both racism and program, which was held in Japan are creating their own different forms ableism through institutional bar- 2 EPRIE - Journal for Regional Integration in East Asia and Europe, 2019
riers and media discourses. This can sively shows by references to K-Pop or many, and Manako Morita (EPRIE
only be overcome, as Abay states in the Harry Potter Alliance. 2013) and Yu Katsumata (EPRIE
his conclusion, by providing access to 2014) from Japan, this project was
sufficient educational and econom- For a more detailed overview about financed and realized through the
ical resources that are necessary to EPRIE’s 2019 topic on “Overcoming EPRIE Project Fund (EPF). A similar
give them the rightful instruments to the challenges posed by social me- cooperation between various EPRIE
empower themselves. dia: How to make it work for social alumni, including Aram Lee (EPRIE
change?” there is explicitly the special 2019), Dahye Yim (EPRIE 2016),
Self-Empowerment is also the topic in in-depth report by Chaitanya Mar- Maja Sojref (EPRIE 2016), Vicky
Julia Trzcińska’s (EPRIE 2018) essay pakwar (EPRIE 2019) “The last Hur- Truong (EPRIE 2019) and Cerise
on “Thinking of making more young rah!!!”, in which everyone who wasn’t Carson, was the “#Mygration Festi-
people vote? Think again”, in which able to be part of the 2019 program val Deutschland 2020” . Hopefully
she is opening up a highly inspiring can trace back the discussions, activ- there are more projects like this to
interconnection between politics and ities and meetings from a very enjoy- come in the future as they are a great
pop culture. Her main focus is hereby able personal perspective. Christoph opportunity to stay connected and
the mismatch between the assumed Mayer, Dahye Yim, Jotaro Kato and to keep alive the foremost intention
political indifference of young peo- Tarek Hassan reflect on their visits to of EPRIE to be an exchange program
ple towards the established political NGOs in Japan and South Korea as for regional integration in East Asia
system and their actual political en- part of the program. and Europe
gagement in social media. In this re-
gard, Trzcińska suggests to elaborate Enjoyable is also the EPRIE Memory
a different point of view, in which the “Just Keep Playing Games Together”
way on how we are thinking about made and presented by Hanna Suh
politics and political engagement (EPRIE 2012). In this “life game” Mathias Räther, Yann Werner Prell
has to be renewed and transferred everyone of us is invited to recap their & Dahye Yim
to the actual everyday reality of the own personal experience with EPRIE
youth. Pop culture might especially and share it with each other. Together
be, therefore, a promising field of re- with Ewa Motylińska (EPRIE 2015)
search to identify those new ways of from Poland, Youngwon Do (EPRIE
engagement in political activism by 2017) from South Korea, Nadeschda
young people as Trzcińska impres- Bachem (EPRIE 2012) from Ger-
EPRIE - Journal for Regional Integration in East Asia and Europe, 2019 3
Contents 2 Editorial 6 The Normality of Letting Refugees Die Albert Denk 10 Turning Numbers into Names – Screenings of the Film “#387” Maja Grundler, Cécile Debarge & Rita Zobel 14 Disabled BIPoC: Intersectional Analysis of Ethnic Disparities in Contemporary Education and the Labour Market in Germany Robel Afeworki Abay 22 Thinking of Making More Young People Vote? Think Again. Julia Trzcińska 26 EPRIE 2019, the Last Hurrah!!! Chaitanya Marpakwar 30 Social Media Strategies for Social Change: EPRIE 2019 & Voice Up Japan Christoph Mayer 32 EPRIE Memory – “Just Keep Playing Games Together” Hanna Suh 36 #Mygration Festival Deutschland Aram Lee, Dahye Yim, Maja Sojref, Vicky Truong & Cerise Carson 42 People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy (PSPD) Visit in South Korea and COVID-19 Impacting our Lives Christoph Mayer, Dahye Yim, Jotaro Kato, Tarek Hassan 4 EPRIE - Journal for Regional Integration in East Asia and Europe, 2019
Imprint
EDITORIAL OFFICE EPRIE ABOUT EPRIE ABOUT KOREA VERBAND
c/o Korea-Verband e.V. The Exchange Program for Regional The Korea Verband is a politically
Quitzowstraße 103 Integration in East Asia and Europe independent forum providing
10551 Berlin (EPRIE) is a 10 to 12 day program information and promoting cooperation
held annually in Europe and East Asia among people who are interested in
Tel: +49 (0)30 3980 5984 alternately, with intensive workshops the history, culture, and politics of
Fax: +49 (0)30 3980 5986 and vivid exchanges of views including Korea. This platform will appeal to all
info@eprie.net political talks, visits to institutions and individuals who wish to engage with or
www.eprie.net guided tours. find out about current developments on
the Korean peninsula.
EPRIE aims to promote and improve
PUBLISHERS dialogue between people of neighboring The Korea Verband seeks and
EPRIE and KOREA VERBAND states, whose relations have been promotes collaboration on national
EPRIE is a registered association troubled in the past; to develop personal and international levels with other
(Vereinsregister Amtsgericht contacts; to build a long lasting network; non-governmental organizations and
Charlottenburg VR 32722 B). The to stimulate and foster the development initiatives as well as experts on Korea in
KOREA VERBAND is a registered of further cooperation. the areas of science, journalism, politics,
association (Vereinsregister Amtsgericht labor unions, churches, environment,
Charlottenburg VR 26710 B). EPRIE was founded in 2012 by the two women‘s rights, arts and culture.
organizers Han Nataly Jung-Hwa and Rita
Zobel. It is mainly supported by Robert The Korea Verband was founded in
MANAGING EDITORS Bosch Stiftung and the Japan office of 1990 and is a founding member of the
Yann Werner Prell Friedrich-Ebert Foundation. foundation Stiftung Asienhaus. Since
Mathias Räther 2008 the Korea Verband has been based
Dahye Yim in Berlin.
ABOUT ROBERT BOSCH STIFTUNG
The Robert Bosch Stiftung GmbH is
LAYOUT AND TYPESETTING one of Europe’s largest foundations AUTHOR INFORMATION
Choe Dong-Ha associated with a private company. In The articles in "EPRIE - Journal for
its charitable work, it addresses social Regional Integration in East Asia and
issues at an early stage and develops Europe" represent the opinions of
PROOFREADING exemplary solutions. For this purpose, it the authors. These opinions do not
Gouri Sharma plans and implements its own projects. necessarily reflect the views of the
Mathias Räther Additionally, it supports third-party Editorial Office or those of the Publisher.
initiatives that have similar goals. We have made all efforts to respect
the copyrights and rights of use of all
PHOTOS The Robert Bosch Stiftung is active in material from third parties. Should any
When photographer is not mentioned, the areas of health, science, society, errors have occurred in specific instances,
the photos were taken and provided by education, and international relations. please contact the Editorial Office.
EPRIE alumni.
Since it was established in 1964, the Reprints and any other form of secondary
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PRINTING around 1.8 billion euros in charitable Publisher. As a rule, we welcome further
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ISSN 2568-8634
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EPRIE - Journal for Regional Integration in East Asia and Europe, 2019 5
The Normality of Letting
Refugees Die
Albert Denk
Eight people die trying to cross the and even try to make contact with authorities, who are simply not pick-
Mediterranean. State authorities, ci- the closest country Libya, but nobody ing up the phone anymore. Further-
vilian rescue services and a critical can be reached there. The country has more, the Dutch shipping company
public on the internet follow the been in a civil war since 2014. At the Vroon is located near the crisis site
events. However, broad media cover- same time as the events off the coast, with two boats (VOS Triton & Aph-
age or political rescue operations are a military offensive is taking place in rodite). However, even these ignore
missing. Dying in the Mediterranean the capital Tripoli, which will result the contact. Both boats could easily
has become normal. in dozens of dead and hundreds in- take in those in distress, but the assis-
jured. tance is omitted. On top of that, the
The following report is exemplary Dutch government is refusing to let
of many more. It is April 10 2019, The ferret aircraft Moonbird of the the rescue ship Sea-Watch 3 leave the
a wooden boat with 20 people on civil society organization Sea-Watch harbor, which could save lives in such
board floats off the coast of Libya1. sends aerial photos of the floating a situation. At the same time, other
An emergency call by refugees in dis- boat via Twitter and confirms the countries such as Italy and Malta are
tress informs the civil society Alarm alarming situation on board2 . A mil- holding back civil society-organized
Phone Initiative that eight people itary plane drops a dinghy and advis- rescue ships, such as the Iuventa and
have already drowned. In addition, es the civil society actors to turn to the Lifeline, under the pretext of
the ship engine has fallen into the Tunisia. Now, the Tunisian Coast false flag certification or the alleged
sea and more and more water comes Guard counters that it has no boats in cooperation with so-called “smuggler
into the boat. Thereupon, the organ- the area and that Libya is responsible, gangs” and thus counteract a possible
ization alerts the responsible state au- but they do not reach anyone there. sea rescue. The political representa-
thorities in Italy, Malta and Tunisia Subsequent contact attempts by Sea- tives of Europe send out a clear mes-
Watch stay ignored by the Tunisian sage: These people should be left to
die in the Mediterranean.
1 The survivors on the floating boat
Tweet by Alarm Phone Initiative share their fears by phone. If they
(https://twitter.com/alarm_phone/ 2
status/1115994279426625536). Pictures on Aerial photos by Moonbird (https://twitter.com/
have to return to Libya, they say, they
page 7 in this magazine. seawatchcrew/status/1115938180514103296) will be killed. However, the responsi-
6 EPRIE - Journal for Regional Integration in East Asia and Europe, 2019
EPRIE - Journal for Regional Integration in East Asia and Europe, 2019 7
ble state authorities ignore this infor- that she*he did not know3 about the cue operations would be different as
mation. Finally, after hours of wait- dying in the Mediterranean. On well. and a completely different form
ing, the Rescue Coordination Center April 10, civil society organizations of solidarity would emerge. This was
in Rome announces that the Libyan report almost every minute via social exemplified by the events in 2019
Coast Guard has picked up the boat media about the described incident. surrounding the cruise ship Viking
and is bringing the survivors back to The tragedy was broadcast as it was in Sky, where the predominantly US
Libya. The decision-makers in the Eu- a livestream. This is followed by reac- and British passengers experienced
ropean Union are aware of the dying tions from people in different parts of a “horror trip [due to] the elemental
in the Mediterranean and in Libya. the world. However, this can be iden- forces of the sea”5. The almost 500
The people left behind in the Med- tified as a small group, a kind of criti- guests of the ship, which was dam-
iterranean that day might not have cal public. It turns out that this event aged off the Norwegian coast, were
had to die if effective maritime rescue just remains in a sort of news bubble. evacuated by helicopter due to an en-
operations were in place. The survi- For example, there is no single article gine failure. 28 injured people from
vors are taken back to the war zone on this in the German leading media. the geopolitical North led to days of
from which they have tried to escape. For the big media houses, the tragedy news reporting, while eight dead peo-
What follows for them is a Libyan is apparently not worth reporting. At ple from the geopolitical South are
detention center that is known for least not anymore. These days, indi- unworthy of reporting in the same
torture and hunger. There, the refu- vidual cases such as these rarely make media sources. It also highlights the
gees are in acute danger of being in a headlines. They appear too regular role of European foreign policy and
life-threatening trap due to air raids and supposedly too similar, so that in the lack of broad media coverage.
and being unable to escape from the the big media houses a greater degree Leading media and politicians ab-
armed conflicts. of importance is attributed to other stract and dehumanize events in the
headlines. Mediterranean by hiding individual
This exemplary report illustrates how cases. Abstract narratives and figures
state-run rescue operations are miss- A comparison of this case with sim- make identification with the victims
ing in the Mediterranean and that ilar ones shows that human lives are more difficult and leads to the fact
there is existing knowledge in Eu- given different values4. If this were to that many Europeans do not have to
ropean societies about the constant be people with a privileged passport deal with it. As a result, the compas-
dying of refugees. Moreover, it stands from the global North, this would be sion and support of many people is
for the normality of these tragedies a media event par excellence. The res- changing. The geographical distance
in the daily perception for people in plays an ambivalent role in this. On
the prosperous North and it reveals the one hand, it appears that the con-
a certain complicity. This dying is tinental border is an alleged border-
not only backed by those who are in- 3
line of solidarity between people. On
formed about the concrete events and An interesting parallel shows up in Germany the other hand, there are examples in
do not act, but also by those who do during the post-war period in the 1940s until which the solidarity of Europeans is
today: This particular pattern of justification
not want to know about them. In fact, was and is still very widespread (to have not
independent of distance. In the sum-
most Europeans know about the dan- known anything about the atrocities of World mer of 2018, when twelve teenagers
War II). However, almost everybody was
ger to life on the escape route between and one adult were missing in a cave
involved in the system. Just as today, almost
North Africa and Southern Europe. all political parties and social institutions in in Thailand, all leading media report-
Hardly anyone will be able to claim Germany support the foreclosure policy in the
Mediterranean.
4
A similar approach is applied in communication 5
studies by means of the news value theory. The most popular newspaper in Germany
Schulz, Winfried (1976): Die Konstruktion von described the incident with these words
Realität in den Nachrichtenmedien. Analyse (https://www.bild.de/news/ausland/news-
der aktuellen Berichterstattung. Freiburg: ausland/viking-sky-das-ist-der-luxusdampfer-
Verlag Alber Karl. der-in-not-geriet-60845174.bild.html).
8 EPRIE - Journal for Regional Integration in East Asia and Europe, 2019
ed in detail about it. Statements of yan coast, Tripoli is in the middle of certain indifference in large parts
solidarity were sent from all over the the war zone. The shots of the attacks of European societies and to an out-
world, including Europe. By contrast, can be heard and the wounded can sourcing of reporting from leading
when the aforementioned boat floats be seen on a cell phone video7 of a media sources to smaller news bub-
off the Libyan coast, hardly anyone detained refugee in the camp of Qasr bles. European politicians not only
on the European continent is inter- Bin Ghasheer, which is located south watch this tragedy, but also are re-
ested in it. The difference between of Tripoli. Even the United Nations sponsible due to their role as accom-
these two cases is that the deaths of urges the relocation of detained refu- plices. Only few resist this normality
eight people on the Mediterranean gees with the utmost urgency8. Social of letting refugees die in the Medi-
appear to be commonplace, just nor- media has made it possible to watch terranean. In particular, civic initia-
mal. In 2018, an average of six people people dying in the Mediterranean tives such as Alarm Phone, Mission
per day died trying to cross the Med- and even in Libyan detention centers. Lifeline, Sea-Eye, Sea-Watch or SOS
iterranean6. This is the deadliest bor- The constant availability leads to a Mediterranee oppose this attitude. It
der in the world. turns out that every form of normali-
ty is merely subjective: It is never nor-
A few days after the boat incident and mal for everyone.
its survivors were returned to the Lib- 7
Twitter Post by Nicola Cois for Doctors without
Borders (https://twitter.com/nicolacois/
status/1121761592222179329).
6
UNHCR: Six people died each day attempting 8
to cross Mediterranean in 2018 (https://www. UNHCR Flash Update on Libya, April 20th 2019
unhcr.org/news/press/2019/1/5c500c504/ (https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/
six-people-died-day-attempting-cross- resources/UNHCR%20Libya%20Update%20
mediterranean-2018-unhcr-report.html). 12%20April%202019.pdf).
Albert Denk
Albert Denk is a social scientist with particular focus on Global Studies. He participated in EPRIE 2016
and is a proponent of global solidarity.
EPRIE - Journal for Regional Integration in East Asia and Europe, 2019 9
Turning Numbers into Names Screenings of the film “#387” in Poland, Germany and the UK Maja Grundler Cécile Debarge Rita Zobel “A hoodie, a pair of trousers, a belt… to help their families find closure. have died attempting to cross the all that is left of “Number 387”, one Mediterranean. Their families often of 800 migrants who drowned off Rita Zobel (EPRIE co-founder), Maja never find out what happened to the Libyan coast on April 18th 2015.” Grundler (EPRIE 2016) and Cécile them. #387 follows the exceptional Thus begins the description of the Debarge (EPRIE 2019) decided to effort of Italian authorities and In- film “#387”, co-written by Cécile screen the film in Berlin, London ternational Red Cross to find the Debarge (EPRIE 2019). During a and other cities if there was interest relatives of the victims, and show breakout session at the EPRIE alum- from other EPRIE alumni to organ- that turning the numbers of dead ni meeting 2019, Cécile presented the ise them. Thanks to funding from the migrants into names and stories is impact campaign for this film. #387 EPRIE project fund, we were able to possible. is a documentary about the forensic organise three screenings all together. identification of migrants who have Julia Trzcińska (EPRIE 2018) and The impact campaign of the film uses died trying to cross in the Mediterra- Marta Kanarkiewicz (EPRIE 2016) the hashtag #numbersintonames, nean, and the tracing of their families joined the team, organizing a screen- and in the spirit of this campaign and in their countries of origin. The film ing in Wrocław. Originally, we had the message of the film, we decided focuses on the shipwreck of 18 April also considered screenings in Japan to have a panel discussion after each 2015 and follows the exceptional ef- and Korea. screening, as a tool to turn numbers forts of Italian authorities and Inter- into names. With the panel discus- national Red Cross to find the rela- The film takes place against the back- sions we wanted to explore the wider tives of the victims. In #387 a team drop of EU migration policies, which implications and context of the film of forensic pathologists, humanitari- leave many migrants with no choice and, create awareness about migra- an workers, and refugee activists are but to try and enter the EU irregu- tion issues in wider society. Cécile fighting to restore the identity of the larly through dangerous routes. Since attended all screenings and explained migrants who died on 18 April 2015, 1988, more than 20,000 migrants her motivations and the process be- 10 EPRIE - Journal for Regional Integration in East Asia and Europe, 2019
EPRIE - Journal for Regional Integration in East Asia and Europe, 2019 11
the University of Westminster. It
was followed by a panel discussion
with Cécile, Emily Knox (Head of
Restoring Family Links at the British
Red Cross), Maurice Stierl (Univer-
sity of Warwick and Watch the Med
- Alarm Phone) and Lorenzo Pezzani
(Goldsmiths, University of London),
and chaired by Maja.
The screenings were a great success,
with good audience turnouts and
lively discussions. The discussions
were an essential part of the project
because they encouraged the audi-
Panel discussion with Katharina Bach (Sea Watch), Sabine Pfuhl (Mittelhof e.V.), Hareth Almukdad (kultur- ence to participate in a deeper debate.
TÜR) and Judith Klimin (German Red Cross Tracing Service). Photo by Rita Zobel.
While the film itself gives names,
faces and stories to the consequenc-
hind making the film. She said she German Red Cross Tracing Service), es of EU migration policies, the dis-
wanted to provide a wider context chaired by Sabine Pfuhl (Mittel- cussions enabled a greater awareness
regarding migration issues, as she hof e.V.). Afterwards Cécile and the of these policies, as well as the expe-
has focused on the topic for five years panel discussed the film with the riences of irregularized migrants and
from her base in the South of Italy. audience. Rita organised the Berlin their families and communities in
screening, and to make the screening countries of origin. The audiences
At our first screening in Wrocław on possible, partnered with KulturTÜR, were made up of a mix of academics,
17 February 2020, Cécile discussed the German Red Cross and Mittel- practitioners, students, refugees and
the film with the audience. Marta hof e.V. The final screening happened volunteers working with them, ac-
and Julia organised the screening and in London on 25 February 2020 at tivists and the general public. This,
partnered with Fundacja MODE to
hold the screening at Barbara, a cul-
tural space located in the centre of
Wrocław.
The second screening took place in
Berlin four days later, on 21 Febru-
ary 2020 at Nachbarschaftscafé Villa
Mittelhof, a charitable organisation
in the south west of Berlin. Cécile
gave a short presentation about the
motivation for the film after the
screening, and this was followed by
a panel discussion with Hareth Al-
mukdad (editor at kulturTÜR – a
magazine for and by refugees and
their neighbours), Katharina Bach
(an activist at the search and rescue
Film screening in Berlin. Photo by Rita Zobel.
NGO Sea Watch), Judith Klimin
(Head of the Berlin branch of the
12 EPRIE - Journal for Regional Integration in East Asia and Europe, 2019along with the experts on the panels, alumni with a similar interest can numbers into names.
made for a broad range of experiences approach Cécile too – we found
and expertise relevant to the topic of that organising these screenings and
the film. discussions has been an extremely
Indeed, a number of people ap- rewarding and enriching experience.
proached Cécile after the events We hope there will be many more
with an interest in organising fur- screenings of this important film,
ther screenings of #387. Any EPRIE and more opportunities for turning
Maja Grundler
is a PhD candidate at Queen Mary, University of London's School of Law. Her PhD research examines the
effects and implications of employing the criminal law concept of human trafficking in refugee law. Maja
holds an MA in British Studies from the Humboldt-University of Berlin and an MSc in Refugee and Forced
Migration Studies from the University of Oxford. She has experience in refugee legal aid and refugee
social work.
Cécile Debarge
is a freelance journalist based in Palermo, Italy. Her work has been mainly published in French in
investigation and long-narrative magazines and in Italian on national weekly newspapers. She
has intensively been covering migrations issues for more than six years now, on both sides of the
Mediterranean Sea. She co-wrote and worked as the director assistant for « Number 387 », a TV
documentary about the identification of migrants who drowned while crossing the Mediterranean
Sea. The film has been broadcast in three countries, with special screenings organized thanks to the
EPRIE network and fundings.
Rita Zobel
is one of the initiators of EPRIE and guided the program at Korea Verband until 2019. Since 2016 she has
been editor in chief of kulturTÜR, a multilingual platform and magazine with refugees and neighbors in
Berlin. She is also active in the Berlin facilitators community.
EPRIE - Journal for Regional Integration in East Asia and Europe, 2019 13Disabled BIPoC: Intersectional Analysis of Ethnic Disparities in Contemporary Education and the Labour Market in Germany Robel Afeworki Abay Introduction disabled BIPoC fall squarely into 2014). Furthermore, migration stud- Disabled BIPoC (Black, Indigenous this category. Due to existing inter- ies more broadly have been accused of and People of Color) are often mar- sectional inequalities, labour market neglecting the disability category, just ginalized and wholly or partially participation is even more difficult for as disabled forced migrants have been excluded from participation in eco- this population (Pieper, 2016). Their invisible within Eurocentric disabili- nomic, social, cultural and political social exclusion should therefore be ty studies (Afeworki Abay, in review). processes (among others: Ben-Moshe understood as a progressive process of Pisani and Grech pointed out that & Magaña, 2014). In the German marginalization due to various forms the connections between forced mi- context, stigmatization and exclusion of inequality, including, but certainly gration and disability studies, “have of certain groups has a long lineage: not limited to, inadequate access to only infrequently been made with due to ongoing racialized and disabil- quality education leading to dispar- the implication that those working ity structures, BIPoC with disabilities ities in labour market outcomes and in migration remain unaware of and have been physically and politically economic deprivation. uneducated in disability; and those marginalized, and subjected to mul- working in disability remain unin- tiple forms of discrimination (see for Though educational and occupa- formed about and uneducated in example: Afeworki Abay, in review). tional disparities of BIPoC with migration.” (Pisani & Grech, 2015: Ableism and racism have therefore disabilities have become an issue in 422). In this regard, many academic been some of the everyday lived reali- political and academic discourse in scholars argue that lived experiences ties of much larger structural process- the last decade, the intersection of of BIPoC with disabilities do not act es for this population. In other words, disability and migration is generally independently, but are instead inter- the poor and marginalized are often under-theorised in Germany (for an related and continuously influenced the most affected: not surprisingly, overview see: Wansing & Westphal, by one other (among others: Carbado 14 EPRIE - Journal for Regional Integration in East Asia and Europe, 2019
et al., 2013). tional relationship between these two for Analyzing Ethnic Disparities
social/structural categories as poten- in Educational and Labour
The intersectionality concept can tial sources of social disadvantages Market Outcomes
therefore be a helpful instrument to (Afeworki Abay, in review), this pre- In recent years, an increasing number
grasp educational attainment and liminary analysis does not claim to of social researchers (among others:
labour market outcomes as a meas- provide a comprehensive account of Pisani & Grech, 2015; Ben-Moshe &
ure that varies between individuals, the multiple dimensions of disparities Magaña, 2014) argue that an inter-
that is associated with ethnic and and inequity that BIPoC with disa- sectional analysis is needed to grasp
racial discrimination but also due to bilities face in accessing the contem- educational attainment as a measure
heteronormative, ableist thoughts, porary German education and the that varies between individuals that
and disabling structures within the mainstream labour market. However, is associated with ethnic and racial
dominant society. Based on the re- it has several implications for future discrimination but also discrimi-
search question: is the intersection of research exploring the ever-growing nation due to disability. The inter-
disability and migration a legitimate neoliberal-ableist trends of complex sectionality concept can be a help-
factor accounting for ethnic dispari- structural discrimination that oper- ful instrument to analyse the main
ties in educational and labour market ated within institutionalized racism characteristics and the complexity
outcomes?, this article demonstrates and ableism that legitimizes existing of structural discrimination against
the multiple and shifting ways in power structures within the domi- BIPoC with disabilities who face
which disability intersects with mi- nant society, leading to social exclu- multiple dimensions of inequity and
gration (race/ethnicity). As there is sion of this population. ableism in the context of educational
still a considerable lack of empirical and occupational attainments. The
evidence on the complex intersec- Intersectionality as a Framework concept of intersectionality, as an es-
EPRIE - Journal for Regional Integration in East Asia and Europe, 2019 15sential theoretical and methodologi- be abolished. and class; ethnicity and language;
cal perspective, enables researchers to and economic alignments within
understand and recognize the com- Consequently, stronger emphasis gender roles and the intersection of
plexities of multiple dimensions of in- should therefore be placed on all as- migration and gender.
equities and discriminations toward pects of educational equity which
BIPoC with disabilities and to ensure requires recognizing specific needs Although education has proven to
better living conditions (Carbado et of students and cultural differences be a key resource for young people
al., 2013). However, besides the fact as forms of human diversity, and wel- competing for jobs in Europe and an
that explaining ethnic disparities is coming and viewing diversity as a re- essential value for a better life in gen-
quite complex and fluid, there is only source rather than a problem (Shuayb, eral, other individual characteristics
limited evidence and an insufficient 2012). By acknowledging this, it may shape the success of labour mar-
amount of intersectional empirical might help schools to understand ket entry. However, there are still sig-
findings on other possible explana- and support students’ conditions and nificant educational attainment gaps
tions; not only for social exclusion in needs in learning, and to adjust their for BIPoC with disabilities, as they
general but also particularly for edu- programs appropriately, which as a are not achieving their true poten-
cational achievement gaps of BIPoC result may shape the success of educa- tial at school. Educational outcomes
with disabilities (Afeworki Abay, in tional attainment and labour market in terms of attending or completing
review). Adopting the intersection- outcomes of BIPoC. In order to in- the highest schooling track leading
ality concept as a theoretical and em- vestigate the specific intersections of to the "Abitur t" might considerably
pirical framework to analyse social educational outcomes, disability and vary among different ethnic groups,
inequity enables the understanding migration, and to explain the inter- young BIPoC with disabilities expe-
of the systematic structures of dom- play of dimensions of discrimination, rience pronounced disadvantages in
ination and oppression experienced much greater emphasis should there- comparison to their native German
by BIPoC with disabilities and other fore be placed on other relevant as- peers. However, it is assumed that
marginalized social groups (Pisani & pects like family socio-economic sta- the argument linking social origins
Grech, 2015; Ben-Moshe & Magaña, tus within the intersectional analysis. to educational attainment not only
2014). applies to migrant students, but also
to students without a migration back-
Compared to their native peers, stu- The Interplay of Family Socio- ground (Zanoni & Mampaey 2013).
dents of color on average have lower Economic Status and Students
educational outcomes. Furthermore, Educational Achievement There has been great progress in ex-
disability poses an additional risk fac- Moreover, many scholars emphasize panding learning opportunities for
tor for their educational success. the significance of migration back- all. Nevertheless, access is not enough,
Therefore, inclusion should be consid- grounds and economic poverty of more focus is needed on the quality
ered both in the context of disability families in contributing to educa- of education. Although education
and in the context of migration. To tional disparities among students of can play a significant role in social
this extent, it could be argued that color. Many researchers (including: inclusion, educational inequity seems
inclusive education is about every Zanoni & Mampaey, 2013) therefore to be difficult to eradicate when dif-
child’s right to be a valued member put much of their analysis within ferent causesare deeply rooted in his-
of society and to be provided with situational contexts that allow the tory, society, and culture. Ethnic dis-
equal opportunities to actively par- discourse on BIPoC children undera- parities in education can result from
ticipate in and contribute to all areas chievement in general to be unpacked the mechanisms of social reproduc-
of learning. This requires all partici- by asking more specifically: which tion that apply to the explanation of
pants within an educational setting children? Pulled from this broad educational inequity in the domi-
to be open to providing the oppor- topic are three key, integrated themes nant population. Other family-based
tunity for students with and without that have recurred regularly within explanations are minority specific,
disabilities to learn together so that the literature across several Europe- i.e. their mechanisms only apply to
segregated educational settings can an countries: economic disadvantage BIPoC and might enhance ethnic
16 EPRIE - Journal for Regional Integration in East Asia and Europe, 2019educational disadvantages (Shuayb, bilities from social and educational
2012), while in some contexts these participation, it is important to em-
differences persist after taking paren- Social Exclusion and phasize that states are particularly
tal education and social origin into Institutional Discrimination responsible for respecting and ensur-
account. These results demonstrate The segregated school system has a ing inherent dignity and individual
that both processes of class reproduc- long tradition of excluding disabled autonomy, including the freedom to
tion, as well as mechanisms which BIPoC from participation, as these make one’s own choices independent-
also apply to young BIPoC with dis- populations have been presumed for ly of others. CRPD is therefore un-
abilities, should be considered in or- several years as "hard-to-reach", and derstood as a strategy which has the
der to account for ethnic educational excluded from societal and commu- potential to promote equal partici-
disadvantages. Longitudinal studies nity participation (Pisani & Grech, pation and enable people by disman-
in education can be of great value in 2015; Ben-Moshe & Magaña, 2014). tling disabling barriers and dominant
following their personal characteris- Besides social exclusion from the ableist perceptions and structures. In-
tics over prolonged periods of time. dominant society, racial and institu- clusive education is widely promoted,
This is very important to evaluate and tional discrimination (Shuayb, 2012; as it promotes identity, equality of op-
to analyse the effectiveness of the cur- Pisani & Grech, 2015; Rist, 2011) is portunity and economic growth, as
rent school curriculum and whether a common experience for many dis- well as social inclusion and cohesion.
these education programs influence abled people of ethnic minority Therefore, priority focus must be
their educational and occupational status. As a result, BIPoC with dis- placed on ensuring more innovative
opportunities. abilities are often excluded from strategies like participation and com-
the labour market. munity-based empowerment which
The emerging trend of the under promote sustainable, people-centered
achievment of disabled BIPoC also Since the ratification of the United development, social justice and equal
needs attention, especially in terms of Nations Convention on the Rights opportunities, in order to achieve
underperformance and in some cases of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), equal opportunities of participa-
even of under-participation. Most- there has been a growing perception tion in education, the labour market
ly, BIPoC are criticized in schools that the need for providing inclusive as well as in the local community
for "not participating", or not mixing support services has been recognised (Shuayb, 2012).
with their white native peers, as well in the national political agenda in
as having their behaviour described Germany (Article 24). Yet there is
in relation to gang culture. However, still a huge contrast between this hu- Racializing Public and Media
Zanoni & Mampaey (2013) explain man rights framework and the reali- Discourses
that BIPoC were not actively opting ty. BIPoC with disabilities often ex- Structural inequity and power
out themselves, but that school insti- perience added barriers in accessing relations are hidden within the media,
tutions led to marginalization and ex- quality education as a result of their public, and political discourses. The
clusion of migrant children at schools. migration backgrounds and their ad- relation of domination and oppres-
Consequently, educational inequal- ditional specific needs accordingly. sion will potentially be re-produced
ity between white native students However, such reservations remain: as intersectional forms of discrimina-
and minority students continues to "rights" are de facto assigned to the cit- tion (Ben-Moshe & Magaña, 2014).
perpetuate social and economic ine- izen imbued with humanity, whilst Moreover, increasingly restrictive
quality. Moreover, a cohesive and in- disabled BIPoC in a challenging ne- policies which exclude and neutral-
clusive society that works towards the oliberal globalisation considered disa- ise those individual and community
well-being of all its members creates a bled, “non-productive”, “non-citizens” practices – which hinders access to
sense of belonging and fights against are stripped of these (Shuayb, 2012). quality education and to the labour
the marginalization within and be- market but also racializes discourses
tween different groups of societies Summing up the information avail- – ensure hierarchical power structures
(Pisani & Grech, 2015; Ben-Moshe & able regarding racial discrimination sorted by legal status, "race", ethnicity
Magaña, 2014). and exclusion of BIPoC with disa- and nationality as well as gender and
EPRIE - Journal for Regional Integration in East Asia and Europe, 2019 17disability (Rist, 2011). ethnicity, whereby many European participation (Ben-Moshe & Magaña,
societies are criticized for having 2014). In essence, ethnic disparities
Media influences due to events such failed with multiculturalism and re- in education and labour market still
as terror attacks might also have led maining a segregated society (Rist, exist, as ethnic minority students
to the occurrence of distorted percep- 2011). The ideas of inclusion/inte- continue to perpetuate social and
tions, such as the creation of moral gration and diversity within schools economic inequality, and migrant
panic in relation to ethnic minorities can be described as ethnocentric due children with disabilities often face
(Pisani & Grech, 2015). Furthermore, to institutional expectation of assim- extreme difficulty in accessing higher
due to the increasingly growing far- ilation and adoption of the predom- education and therefore continue to
right politics in Europe, negative por- inant culture (Zanoni & Mampaey, be more disadvantaged. Hence, equi-
trayals of BIPoC (especially Muslim 2013). A dichotomy of "us" and "them" ty and quality in education should be
men of color) are becoming more leads to cultural insensitivities that considered as an indispensable com-
normal in discourse in Germany lead to "white norms" remaining su- ponent in building a culture of di-
in recent years. Consequently, this perior. The ideas of the migrant "gang versity in education, and to create a
causes the creation of Islamaphobic culture" and "self-segregation" can situation where all children are en-
responses and due to fears caused by be explained by the marginalization couraged to reach their full potential
public and media discourse, the label- within schools which might encour- in all areas of development (Zanoni
ling of BIPoC as "dangerous" (Rist, age minority students to form groups & Mampaey, 2013).
2011). Such "othering" praxis and rac- in order to have a presence within
ism in gendered racial discourses has school institutions (Rist, 2011). De-
been criticized, especially in postco- spite this, other ways in which racism Conclusion
lonial-studies, for strengthening the impede mixing are not completely As already pointed out, ethnic dispar-
dominant heteronormative social or- clear (Shuayb, 2012; Castro Varela & ities of BIPoC with disabilities persist
der. Castro Varela & Mecheril (2016) Mecheril, 2016). both in education and employment
emphasize an examination of the de- in Germany. While some consider-
monization of the "other", and pow- able progress has been made gradu-
er relations should be a fundamen- Education as a Crucial Influence ally, the intersectional relationship
tal prerequisite part of the research for Labour-Market Entry between the structural categories of
process on intersectional analysis of As discussed above, educational disability and migration, particularly
migration/ethnicity, "race", and dis- achievement is determined by factors in relation to the educational attain-
ability, as related to discrimination, both inside and outside the school en- ment and labour market outcomes
racism and "cultural othering" in vironment, as a lot of educational in- of these populations, still remains
reasoning production, re-production equity is also attributed to economic inadequately understood. Focussing
and legitimization of existing asym- disparities that often fall along racial on the prevailing factors which seem
metrical power relations and struc- lines, and much modern conversation to have contributed to patterns of
tures. It constructs "otherness" and about educational equity conflates inequality and discrimination of dis-
re-produces it as different, marginal the two, showing how they are in- abled BIPoC in contemporary Ger-
and inferior, which applies to both separable from residential location man education and the labour market,
BIPoC communities as well as per- and more recently, language (Rist, the implication is that further empir-
sons with disabilities. 2011). Accordingly, the most obvious ical engagements are crucial in pro-
finding to emerge from the studies viding more empirical explanations
This can be seen to link to the ideas reviewed in this article is that the for addressing the multidimensional
of exclusionary process, which is crit- outcome of segregation in education nature of exclusion and marginaliza-
icized for its narrow view and there- produces negative effects such as cur- tion. Having said that, social policy
fore leads to behaviours being inter- riculum polarization and the repro- reforms and national political agen-
preted as unacceptable. The political duction of educational inequity and das need to give more attention to
nature of the "othering" links to the as a result, disabled BIPoC still strug- the challenging ablest attitudes and
highly politicized ideas of "race" and gle to claim equal opportunities and barriers. Finally, it is important to
18 EPRIE - Journal for Regional Integration in East Asia and Europe, 2019bear in mind that inclusive education ments for a better life later and the
significantly determines lifelong pat- potential for social cohesion (Shuayb,
ters of inclusion. The big question for 2012). Hence, accessible structures
policy makers should then be: what and sufficient resources must be pro-
can be done inside the education sys- vided to fundamentally change the
tem to ensure an inclusive infrastruc- marginalization and exclusion of BI-
ture that results in better educational PoC with disabilities and to empower
attainments of disabled BIPoC as an them to become more active protago-
empowering tool against social ine- nists in shaping their own lives.
quality? Further considerations are
therefore prevalent in alerting policy
makers to the fundamental role of
quality inclusive educational arrange-
References
Afeworki Abay, R. (im Erscheinen). Carbado, Devon W., & Gulati, M. (2013): Shuayb, M. (2012). Rethinking Education
Ableism und Rassismus: Intersektionale The Intersectional Fifth Black Women. Du for Social Cohesion: International Case
Perspektiven und konviviale Bois Review: Social Science Research on Studies. Basingstoke and New York.
Visionen auf Erwerbsarbeit in der Race, 10(2), 527–40.
Postwachstumsgesellschaft. In: B. Konz, Wansing, G., & Westphal, M. (2014).
& A. Schröter (Hrsg.), Dis/Ability in der Pieper, M. (2016). Assemblagen von Behinderung und Migration: Inklusion,
Migrationsgesellschaft. Betrachtungen Rassismus und Ableism. Selektive Diversität, Intersektionalität. Wiesbaden:
an der Intersektion von Behinderung, Inklusion und die Fluchtlinien affektiver Springer VS.
Kultur und Religion in Bildungskontexten. Politiken in emergenten Assoziationen.
Bad Heilbrunn: Klinkhardt. In: Movements Journal for Critical Zanoni, P. & Mampaey, J. (2013).
Migration and Border Regime Studies, Achieving ethnic minority students’
Ben-Moshe, Land Magaña, S. (2014). 2(1), 91-116. inclusion: a Flemish school’s discursive
An Introduction to Race, Gender, and practices countering the quasi-
Disability: Intersectionality, Disability Pisani, M. & Grech, S. (2015). Disability market pressure to exclude. In: British
Studies, and Families of Color, 2 (2), and Forced Migration: Critical Educational Research Journal 39 (1), 1–21.
Women, Gender, and Families of Color, Intersectionalities, 2(1), Disability and the
105-114. Global South, 421-441.
Castro Varela, M.d.M. & Mecheril, P. Rist, R.C. (2011). On understanding the
(2016). Die Dämonisierung der Anderen processes of schooling: the contributions
Rassismuskritik der Gegenwart (X-Texte of labelling theory. Sociology of
zu Kultur und Gesellschaft). Bielefeld: Education: A Critical Reader (2), 71-82.
Transcript.
Robel Afeworki Abay
is a PhD fellow at Humboldt University of Berlin, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences. He has studied
Sociology at Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia (B.A.) and Cardiff University, Wales, UK as well as
Social Work at the University of Kassel (M.A.). Focussing on labour market participation of BIPoC with
disabilities in Germany, his PhD project analyses the intersectional effects of ableism and racismas
regulators of social practices of difference. His research and teaching interests include intersectional
analysis of disability and migration; social justice research; racism, ableism and ethnic disparities in
contemporary education and labour market; postcolonial theories; participatory research; photovoice;
Diversity, Community, Indigenous and Disability Studies. Contact: robel.abay@hu-berlin.de
EPRIE - Journal for Regional Integration in East Asia and Europe, 2019 19Overcoming the challenges
posed by
social media:
HOW
TO MAKE IT WORK FOR
SOCIAL CHANGE
?
Impressions from the EPRIE 2019 Alumni
Seminar in Paju, South Korea (top, left, below).
Photos by Tsukasa Yajima.
20 EPRIE - Journal for Regional Integration in East Asia and Europe, 2019EPRIE 2019 in Tokyo, Japan. Photos by David Woo.
Visit to People’s Solidarity for
Participatory Democracy.
Photos by Tsukasa Yajima.
Visit of EPRIE 2019
participants and EPRIE alumni
to the Korea Democracy
Foundation.
Photo by Tsukasa Yajima.
EPRIE - Journal for Regional Integration in East Asia and Europe, 2019 21Thinking of Making More Young
People Vote? Think Again.
Julia Trzcińska
Interconnections between politics doesn’t necessarily mean that they are stream culture (Fiske, 1992), they
and pop culture can be found on not interested in the world around also learn new ways of cooperating,
many different levels: from anti-war them and that they only spend their organizing their actions and commu-
protest songs to successful soft power days mindlessly scrolling through In- nicating. One of these numerous ex-
pushes, from singers endorsing presi- stagram. It is often argued that youth amples can be seen in Poland, where
dential candidates to TV series’ tack- these days don’t understand political K-Pop fandom has been dragged into
ling social problems and modern-day mechanisms and decision-making political discourse. K-Pop itself defi-
challenges. Although the link itself is and to some extent it might be true, nitely can’t be seen as a part of main-
obvious, its assessment doesn’t seem but not because they don’t care about stream culture in Poland and with
to be. Experts on politics often argue it, but rather because it is explained its colorful visuals, “flower boys” and
that it’s a simplification of complicat- to us using the same textbooks that reversing the male audience/women
ed and important issues and it will were written for our parents. Young that are being watched dichotomy, it
sooner or later lead to a deteriora- people can be active and engaged, but challenges traditional values. More-
tion of democratic standards. Would they use completely different means over, Polish K-Pop fans have become
young people, those who are the fu- to do so, and thus are not classified in known for their online fight for LG-
ture of democracies in question, agree the well-known “political participa- BTQ+ rights, and because of that
with this statement though? tion” and “informed citizen” schemes. they were thought to be leftists’ guer-
rilla fighters on Twitter, with some
Facebook pages hoping that enough
“They just don’t care” “Our only hope is that enough of them would be of age by the next
Youth in many countries have been K-Poppers will be able to vote in parliamentary elections in Poland to
criticized for being indifferent to- 2023” change the current status quo.
wards politics. This allegation of po- Examples of such political engage-
litical apathy is based on youth voter ment can be found among fandom
turnout – visibly lower than that of members. Not only are many fan- New leftist force?
people over 40. While it is generally doms seen as subcultures – a group of Their hopes seemed to be fueled even
true that younger people don’t vote, it marginalized people contesting main- more after K-Pop fans and TikTok
22 EPRIE - Journal for Regional Integration in East Asia and Europe, 2019users engaged in the Black Lives our optics on this. making hashtags on Twitter trend
Matter movement in the United worldwide. With the same skills,
States, and when they ridiculed Don- however, they can fight for anything
ald Trump’s rally in Tulsa, reserving “Next time they see us staring they find important for them and
half of the venue only for the sake of at a screen, why don’t we show they often do. This notion was re-
not showing up and leaving the seats them what we’re doing with it” flected in a recent ad with teen-idol
empty. Those events sparked an in- Results of the research on Polish Billie Eilish explaining that the fact
terest in K-Pop fans worldwide and K-Pop fandom correlate with recent that young people are staring at their
brought their actions to light. Do studies on women in Poland aged screens doesn’t necessarily mean that
those events, however, prove that we 18-39 (conducted by E. Korolczuk) they care only about the new TikTok
can see an emergence of a new leftist who seem to be the most progressive dance, because they could be organ-
movement linked to a specific object part of Polish society, caring about izing a climate change protest at that
of interest? Polish K-Pop fans, when human rights and environmental is- moment.
asked what values are important to sues, worrying about leaving the EU
them, stressed freedom, separation and the collapse of health the system.
of church and state, equality, and the In this sense K-Pop fans, being most- Solidarity and participation
fight against climate change. Both alt- ly young women themselves, can be instead of voting
right and alt-left sentiments seem to seen as a part of a broader trend, but The third factor making fans in gener-
be very far from what they find cru- this does not explain fully their phe- al a potentially strong political force
cial and their answers definitely don’t nomenon. A second factor that has to is the fandom itself. Fandom mem-
form any coherent ideology. They do be taken into account is the fact that bers very often find themselves in
have a more liberal approach, but it many members of K-Pop fandom an unbalanced situation, where they
could hardly be associated strictly nowadays are tech-savvy post-millen- have to oppose much stronger main-
with political views. Does it mean nials who practice their social media stream culture, but at the same time,
that those fans, against many people’s skills while supporting their favorite find people who share their interests
beliefs, are not politically active? On idols, organizing collective streaming with whom they form a community
the contrary, but we need to change of new music videos on YouTube or and find a sense of solidarity. There
EPRIE - Journal for Regional Integration in East Asia and Europe, 2019 23You can also read
