A changing North America

Freedom and democracy are core values of American society. Since the founding of the United States, they have repeatedly acted as the driving force of social and cultural change. At the same time, they have marked the starting points for debates on what economic and social requirements are needed for their realisation and how freedom can best be protected: that is the internal perspective. The external view is accompanied, where necessary, by a violent export of democratic ideas and concepts. In the age of globalisation, with the collapse of the Soviet Union, which left the United States as the only superpower, and the events of 11 September 2001, this has intensified the argument between liberal and conservative forces in the United States over what exactly the concept of freedom is. This development has far-reaching consequences for the USA’s identity and also presents the academic study of North America, including Canada’s situation, with new challenges. The Graduate School is therefore establishing a research context between domestic and foreign policy, business and industry, society, the media, art, culture and religion. The goal is to achieve a fundamental, historically- grounded understanding of the social change. Six subjects are involved: cultural and literary studies, history, political science, sociology, and economics and business administration.