Special Subjects

The special subjects of the ifa library are coordinated with other libraries. It is the only library all over the world that covers foreign cultural policy and international cultural relations and the connected and succeeding subjects. Apart from German-language publications, a selection of important international publications dealing with politico-cultural affairs are also available.

Foreign cultural politics and international cultural relations • exchange research / intercultural communication • cultural area studies • national stereotypes • migration and minorities research • German- speaking population groups abroad

Foreign Cultural Policy and International Cultural Relationsn

The ifa library is the official documentation centre of the Federal Republic of Germany for Foreign Cultural Policy and international cultural relations. Areas of collection:
• concepts of Foreign Cultural Policy
• institutions dealing with foreign cultural relations
• history and development of Foreign Cultural Policy
• cultural factors of globalisation
• multilateral cultural cooperation (Europe, UNESCO)
• foreign languages policy
• relations in sciences (exchange of students and academics), schools abroad
• exchange in fine arts and literature, reception research
• cultural exchange in frontier regions
• cultural factors of international media policy
• human rights as a part of Foreign Cultural Policy

Exchange Research / Intercultural Communication

Exchange research is a pivotal scientific discipline for the realisation of international cultural relations. It analyses processes and conditions of intercultural contacts and encounters and studies its mental, social, political, cultural and economical consequences. In doing so it also considers aspects of intercultural communication. Areas of collection:
• personal exchange (pupils, adolescents, students, academics) and thereby induced changes of values within Germany and abroad
• cultural standards, cultural values (dos and taboos)

Cultural Area Studies

The dialogue across borders as it is intended by Foreign Cultural Policy as well as the exchange and cooperation between people and institutions from different countries is possible only, if there is sufficient knowledge on other cultures. Areas of collection:
• overall reviews on the bilateral connections of Germany
• cultural situation / cultural system and cultural policy
• cultural factors in mass media, fine arts, literature and language policies
• cultural identity

National Stereotypes

In addition to sufficient information on other cultures the knowledge about the impact of national stereotypes that affect the perception of other cultures is also of pivotal importance. Areas of collection:
• national stereotypes
• stereotypes research related to foreign countries
• German image abroad, image of foreign countries in Germany and national stereotypes in mass media, fine arts, literature, schoolbooks etc.

Minorities / Migration Research

Dialogue between cultures does not only take place abroad but also in Germany. Therefore Foreign Cultural Policy also contains the element of cultural encounter within Germany which is of special importance due to the high contingent of foreigners in Germany. Areas of collection:
• cultural questions of foreign minorities in Germany
• general surveys on the situation of foreign minorities in Germany, reports of the German Commissioners for Migration on the situation of foreign minorities
• psychologic-cultural factors of xenophobia
• cultural factors of the migration policy of selected states
• basics of migration research

German-Speaking Population Groups Abroad

The promotion of German minorities abroad is among the oldest domains of German Foreign Cultural Policy. For more than eighty years the ifa library documents the literature on this subject. Areas of collection:
• promotion of German minorities as a measure of Foreign Cultural Policy and part of cultural relations
• general surveys on the history of German minorities abroad respectively new approaches or outstanding research to this
• scientificly founded secondary literature on fine arts and literature
• German-language press abroad (primary and secondary literature)
• cultural aspects of exile overseas
• cultural factors of German colonial policy