Radicalization Monitoring System and Transfer PlatformSuccessful Start of Second MOTRA Round

Photo: University of Hamburg / Esfandiari

University of Hamburg Main Building

The Professorship for Criminology at the University of Hamburg’s Faculty of Law headed by Prof. Dr. Peter Wetzels and Prof. Dr. Katrin Brettfeld as well as researchers from the Accountability and Participation research program led by Prof. Dr. Thomas Richter at the German Institute for Global and Area Studies (GIGA) successfully acquired a further €3.5 million in research funding until 2028.

MOTRA is a cutting-edge research cluster involving 9 research institutions across Germany. Within this framework the 2 Hamburg research groups collaborate very closely. Research at the University and the GIGA focuses on the systematic monitoring of political attitudes and perceptions of current social conditions in Germany. This includes investigating the spread and causes of the various forms of intolerance such as xenophobia, antisemitism, and anti-Muslim hate.

Another special focus is on analyzing how international conflicts and global political transitions are impacting the attitudes and lives of people in Germany. Both research teams work closely with transfer partners in prevention practice. The partners get special support in tailoring their service approach to reach their target groups more effectively.

Prof. Dr. Hauke Heekeren, president of the University of Hamburg: “We congratulate the project managers and their teams on this significant success. The continuation of MOTRA illustrates not only the high level of recognition, but also the immense importance of this research here in Hamburg, which provides essential input for social cohesion and security. This success reflects the excellent and applied research and recognizes the close cooperation between the University of Hamburg and the GIGA in Hamburg as a center of research.”

Prof. Dr. Sabine Kurtenbach, president of the German Institute for Global and Area Studies: “We are proud that our researchers’ work provides seminal ideas for improving social cohesion and security. The continuation of MOTRA underlines the great renown and significance this research here in Hamburg has achieved.”

Further information about the project can be found on the official MOTRA website at www.motra.info.

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