CERP PROPOSAL

1. ABSTRACT
There is a sect of academia that focuses on socionarratoly: a combination of anthropology,
sociology, and narrative study that explores how the stories we tell, and the stories we are told,
effect the way we perceive ourselves and others perceive us. This theory lays out how stories
make up the basis of our lives. This idea can be applied to every aspect of life, but is especially
prevalent in the political sphere, as the stories politicians tell when discussing issues can greatly
affect how those involved are perceived, and how the public reacts. The most important story in
this era has been the story told about migrants and refugees, especially in this time of increased
movement, specifically out of Syria, due to conflict or economic crisis. The stories and rhetoric
politicians use to describe this issue can be the difference in how the refugees are received. That
is why in this study, I will be gathering stories from refugees and migrants, residents, and those
involved politically in Germany as well as analyzing political rhetoric to see what stories are told
about migrants in Germany, and how it effects their experience. In piecing these separate parts
together, and comparing in to the rhetoric and effects in the United States, I hope to show how
different approaches to rhetoric can help or hinder a society, and a people who are in need.

2. BACKGROUND
The purpose of this project will be to study German rhetoric concerning migrants and
Refugees in order to see how it affects the publics view of migrants, and the migrant experience.
Throughout the preparation seminar, a common theme began to become apparent: The way
migrants are portrayed affects the way the country reacts to them. Chapter 1 of the Age of
Migration discussed how immigration is often faced with the rhetoric of fear. People fear losing
their jobs, or they fear they and their country will lose their identity. This fear is often played
upon by politicians as well. President Trump has used this rhetoric of fear in his campaign,
exploiting tensions already present. Chapter 10 of the age of migration stated that Some degree
of residential segregation is to be found in many immigration countries, though nowhere is it as
extreme as in the USA (Castles et. al). In my own experience, I have noticed this to be true,
outside of major cities, there are towns that are mostly one race or another of immigrants. This
segregation, as stated in the chapter can be the result of multiple reason: a need for a community
of those with similar experience, racism, or socio economic disparities (Castles et. al). Even
though it is most extreme in the US, this segregation extends to European countries including
Germany. In the specific case of Syrian refugees, many are segregated into different camps for
lack of appropriate housing. In Berlin, there is a large Turkish neighborhood as a result of
previous migration, which, again, could be attributed to any or all of the factors previously listed
above. This segregations of migrants and refugees can cause problems for these people. Even
though their segregation is caused by societal and political factors, it can make them societal
targets of violence and enduring racism. All across the world racist harassment and attacks have
become major issues in all countries of immigration (Castles et. al). In Germany, xenophobic
violence has been spurred by reunification movements that operated under a German only
nationalist idea. In fact, the narrow definition of nationalism seems to be behind most campaigns
against refugees. Again, using Trump as an example, his campaign preached to Make America
Great Again which for him included getting rid of those who did not stand for America and
mooched off of its freedoms: The immigrants.
Another large problem that migrants face, especially from middle eastern countries, is the
idea of underground terrorists, and that they pose a threat to the countrys safety. This rhetoric
has often been used in the United states as a reason to block immigration, and has been used this
pass year to create an immigration ban. This, again, is the use of fear to further an agenda, but
comes from a misunderstanding of the reasons why people migrate. As explained in chapter 2 of
The Age of Migration, people come for many different reasons, and it is extremely rare that they
come for terrorism reasons. Sometimes its economic factors, sometimes its safety, sometimes its
education, and sometimes the influx of people from a certain area can be tied to economic
connections between countries. The United States and Mexico is a good example of this
connection, as our close economic ties may influence the immigration of those in Mexico to the
US.
All this information is extremely important as, when describing anything, one crafts a
story. They begin to describe groups, their relation to the group, that groups relationship to
others, so on and so forth. This story building is extremely delicate and important in politics as it
can affect legislature and create laws. It can also heavily influence the way people act. It appears
that between Germany and the US, there are some differences in how the story was crafted. In
watching Angela Merkels New Year address and comparing it to the way our current president
talks about immigrants, the difference becomes clearer: There is a more forgiving and
sympathizing tone in Merkels speech than that of Trumps harsh and hateful rhetoric. This
situation provides for a study on how rhetoric can produce different outcomes and feelings in the
same situation when used differently. Arthur Frank, a socionarratologist, wrote a book called
Letting Stories Breath that talked about how stories effect people and effect their experience in
the world. He talks about how carefully stories must be told, as they can be powerful and a bit
unruly as they have a mind of their own: they breath (Frank). By seeding a certain idea, whether
that be of immigrants as people who need help, or as greedy people looking to hurt citizens, one
can start a chain of events they will not necessarily have control over. I hope to use the ideas in
Franks novel to explore that chain of events through analyzing the stories I gather in Berlin.
Words and stories can be the most powerful weapon a politician has. In exploring the
effects, hopefully a greater awareness can be brought to the mind of the public so that they can
take a more critical view of the speechs and stories told by those in power.

3. QUESTION
How does rhetoric effect the well-being of migrants in the country they move to: how does it
affect how those around them react to their presence and how well they are able to adjust? When
discussing negotiating identities in Germany, the stories told definitely can help or hinder this
discussion and process of the identity of those in Germany and what it means to be a German.
Migrants have proposed an interesting complication and expansion of this question.
 4. CULTURAL SENSITIVITY
I have a few biases coming in to this study. I hugely sympathize with the plight of the
migrants, and believe strongly that we have a responsibility to at least offer refuge to these
people who have been pushed out of their home country. I also have a pretty negative opinion of
the way that our current president has addressed the issue of Syrian refugees in the US.

5. METHODS
Mostly, the method I will be using to gather information will be interviews. I will hopefully
be able to contact those willing to share their stories through the community partners as well as
through Manuela. I also plan on keeping up to date on politics concerning migrants by doing
careful reading and analysis of speeches given about the migrant population. I also think I will
want to buy a recorder that way I can just listen instead of taking notes.

6. DAILY SCHEDULE
Pre Departure
Before I head out I would want to work on making final updates and changes to this
CERP as well as reviewing Letting Stories Breath to solidify the theorectical basline I am
attacking this project with. I also want to read at least one speech from Merkel and Trump
about immigrants to get a good idea of the stories politicians are using or trying to
implement as the norm
Week 1
I hope to talk to Manuela at some point this week about setting up interviews with those
who have connections in the non profit and government sphere about immigrants and
their political thoughts about the immigrant situation in Berlin. I also would like to ask
her to help me get in touch with migrants who would like to share their stories
By day 3 I hope to have a good idea of questions I will ask which I will run by the
advisors
Week 2
I would hope that after creating a good relationship with some in y placement I will begin
conducting interviews at this time. This of course will continue through the rest of the trip
I hope to gather at least 10 different accounts but more would be so much better
I plan to ask to take pictures if possible in a sort of Humans of New York style to keep
track of those I interview
By the end of each day I want to take some time to transcribe these interviews
Week 3
Continue interviewing, try to talk to residents about their feelings (again maybe ask
Manuela for connections or ask the regulars I see in the area/those who talk to me?
Check in with Julie and Kathrine about project and get advice
Start looking into more local news articles and speeches (Keep up with current events!)
Week 4
 Last of the interviews finish within the first two days of this week
Finish transcribing everything
Finalize last details
Write a reflection

7. REFERENCES:
Castles, Stephen, Hein De Haas, and Mark J. Miller. The Age of Migration: International Population
Movements in the Modern World. New York, NY: Guilford, 2014. Print.
"Multilingualism and the Arts." Multilingualism Languages Without Borders - Multilingualismand
the Arts - Goethe-Institut . N.p., n.d. Web. 08 May 2017.
Stanii, Saa. "Three Myths of Immigrant Writing: A View from Germany." Words Without Borders.
N.p., n.d. Web. 08 May 2017.
Youkhana, Eva. "Creative Activism and Art Against Urban Renaissance and Social Exclusion - Space
Sensitive Approaches to the Study of Collective Action and Belonging." Sociology Compass 8.2
(2014): 172-86. Web.
Frank, Arthur W. Letting Stories Breathe: A Socio-narratology. Chicago: U of Chicago, 2012. Print.