Episode 12: Us and Them in East and West: Jewish Identity Constructions in the Habsburg Monarchy - Interview with Maximilian Kathan (Heidelberg University of Jewish Studies)

28/09/2025 35 min

Listen "Episode 12: Us and Them in East and West: Jewish Identity Constructions in the Habsburg Monarchy - Interview with Maximilian Kathan (Heidelberg University of Jewish Studies)"

Episode Synopsis

Maximilian Kathan (Heidelberg University of Jewish Studies) in conversation with Sinan Barış Yaşar (HGGS) - What is the impact of nationalism and antisemitism in the late Habsburg Monarchy?- How did Karl Emil Franzos and Nathan Birnbaum contribute to the (re)construction of Jewish identity?- What roles do language and literature play in defining national identity? In this episode, Maximilian Kathan from Heidelberg University of Jewish Studies discusses his research on Jewish identity constructions within the Habsburg Monarchy, focusing on the interplay of history, literature, and Jewish studies. He explores the impact of nationalism and antisemitism in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in the Habsburg Monarchy, in light of the diverse perspectives of Jewish writers Karl Emil Franzos and Nathan Birnbaum. The conversation delves into the complexities of identity, language, and cultural tensions in a rapidly changing empire, as well as the methodological challenges faced in historical literary studies. Timeline(00:00) Intro(00:24) Introducing Maximilian Kathan and His Research Topics(03:12) Interdisciplinary Approaches in Historical Research(05:04) Exploring the late Habsburg Monarchy: A Time of Change(06:42) Comparative Analysis of Jewish Writers: Franzos and Birnbaum(14:43) Nationalism and Its Impact on the Habsburg Empire(20:17) Relationship between Language and National Identity in the Habsburg Empire(21:11) Antisemitism and Its Effects on Jewish Writers(23:58) Cultural Tensions: The Dichotomy of East and West(26:07) Methodological Challenges in Historical Research(29:44) Recommended Works of Franzos and Birnbaum(31:52) Personal Reflections and Future Plans(34:20) Outro  KeywordsJewish identity, Habsburg monarchy, nationalism, antisemitism, literary analysis, interdisciplinary research, historical context, cultural tensions, language, Jewish studies

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