On open and respectful discussions – Hanno Hauenstein interviewing Nancy Fraser on Jacobin:

‘Renowned philosopher Nancy Fraser was set to grace the Albertus Magnus professorship at the University of Cologne this May. But at the end of last week, she was abruptly disinvited by the university’s rector, Joybrato Mukherjee, for signing a pro-Palestinian solidarity letter last fall. In this interview with Hanno Hauenstein, Fraser speaks out for the first time.’

(…)

‘ NANCY FRASER

A few days ago, I received an email from a professor in Cologne, Andreas Speer, who organizes these events. He told me how he’d just heard from the university rector, who was concerned about the fact that I’d signed the “Philosophy for Palestine” statement back in November and wanted me to clarify my position. I thought, what a nerve! I mean, what’s it his business what my views are about the Middle East? I’m a free agent, I’m able to sign whatever I want.
On the other hand, I didn’t want to be overly confrontational. So, I wrote back and said, well, of course, there are many different views about Palestine and Israel, and there’s a lot of pain on all sides, including pain I experienced myself as a Jew. But there’s one thing on which there can be no disagreement. I quoted a line from a statement the university rector had posted on the university’s website, on the importance of open and respectful discussion. So, I told Mr. Speer, please assure the rector that he can absolutely count on me when it comes to an open and respectful discussion.’ (…)

‘Do you believe this is a trend? NANCY FRASER Yes, and I am very concerned. I think of this as a fever that’s gripping Germany and to a lesser extent, Austria. It is a very harmful thing. I also think that it’s so important that Germans understand something of the complexity and breadth of Judaism, its history, its perspective. They are sort of signing on with this idea of an unconditional pledge of allegiance to Israel, that that’s the German responsibility — unqualified support for the state of Israel.
Given what Israel is currently up to, this is a betrayal of what I would call the most important and weighty aspects of Judaism as a history, a perspective, and a body of thought. I’m talking about the Judaism of Maimonides and of [Baruch] Spinoza, of Sigmund Freud, Heinrich Heine, and Ernst Bloch.
HANNO HAUENSTEIN Can you specify what you mean by that? NANCY FRASER This [other] tradition of Judaism is reducing Judaism to not just nationalism, but an ultranationalism of the sort that’s trampling and basically destroying the Gaza Strip. By the way, I just signed another letter! I’m not repentant. A letter against Israeli “scholasticide,” meaning the destruction of schools and universities in Gaza.’

(…)
‘HANNO HAUENSTEIN Your colleagues look at Germany and ask themselves: What’s going on? NANCY FRASER Among academics and people in the arts, for sure. Also in journalism, since the Gessen case was so widely reported. And the belated attempt now to strip Butler of the Adorno Prize — all this is very much discussed. At least in the arts, in academia, and in journalism, people are very disturbed, appalled, also outraged. There have been plenty of Palestinians and ethnic Arabs who have been victimized by this, but also prominent Jews. This incites this feeling of, well, who are you to tell us what it means to support the Jewish people?’

Read the complete interview here.

It’s hard to learn from past mistakes. After all the missteps mentioned in this article it’s really a miracle why the University of Cologne insisted on creating a sequel to the performative art of scandals in Germany after October 7, 2023.

I’ve defended German sensitivities, if people are entitled to sensitivities also the Germasn, but there is sensitivity, there is sheer stupidity and there is dogmatism that might look secular but turns out to be religious in its refusal to question its own articles of faith.

It’s a pity that the larger question was not touched upon in this article. Cancellation is not a purely German phenomenon. Under what conditions is cancellation merited? Or: what do we mean by open and respectful discussions? Also, this aspect of German culture will change, it will change sooner than we think, and I would say that it will change with a vengeance. The reaction will be as ugly as the cancellations, postponements, and mistakes we have seen the last couple of months.