Study Commission in Berlin: Together against racism and anti-Semitism!

Study Commission in Berlin: Together against racism and anti-Semitism!

On March 21, 2025, Dr. Marcus Funck, a renowned anti-Semitism researcher at the Technical University of Berlin, was appointed to the newly founded study commission “For social cohesion, against anti-Semitism, racism, anti-Muslim and every form of discrimination”. The commission was set up by the Berlin House of Representatives at the end of February 2025 and aims to develop strategies for peaceful and non-discriminatory coexistence in Berlin, reported TU Berlin.

In total, the commission consists of 26 members: 14 representatives and 12 external experts. The goals include reviewing and networking existing programs to promote democracy and creating new initiatives. Dr. Funck underlines the relevance of a scientific perspective for the success of the commission's work, especially in view of his many years of research experience at the Center for Anti-Semitism Research at the TU Berlin, which deals, among other things, with (new) right-wing political movements and cultures of remembrance.

The social context

The establishment of the commission comes against the backdrop of an increased need for action against racism and discrimination in Berlin, a city where around 1.5 million people have a migrant background. SPD parliamentary group leader Raed Saleh emphasizes the importance of diversity and tolerance. He calls for debates to be made more objective and discussions to be slowed down, while Green parliamentary group leader Bettina Jarasch expresses concerns that the commission could potentially serve as a diversionary tactic, particularly with regard to cuts in financial support for anti-racist activism, as on rbb24 reported.

The commission, led by Saleh, is also under pressure to develop ideas to combat anti-Semitism and racism and present them in a report to parliament. This was also criticized by the AfD, which expressed doubts about the credibility of the commission and, despite increased support, it was rejected with 25 yes votes.

Research and anti-Semitism prevention

In Germany there is an extensive research landscape that deals with anti-Semitism. The Federal Ministry of Education and Research is funding numerous projects with a total volume of around 12 million euros to support science in combating anti-Semitism, such as BMBF reported. These projects are interdisciplinary and cover a wide range of topics, from the prevention of anti-Semitism in education to the reactions of Jewish communities to anti-Semitic experiences.

The study commission is therefore at a crucial point in not only developing acute strategies in the fight against discrimination, but also integrating the findings from current research projects. These diverse perspectives are necessary to find sustainable solutions and strengthen society against the challenges of anti-Semitism and racism.