Written by Leila Leibert
Reading this week’s passages provided a glimpse into the social fabric of the Ukrainian refugee and migrant crisis, which has been experiencing a transformation of its own. From emergence to permanence, the 1.3 million Ukrainians under temporary protection, have become a defining part of Germany’s social fabric. What struck me most was the circular return of many of these migrants, traveling back to Ukraine to care for their loved ones, and returning to Berlin. The Kyiv Independent’s report on the planned “unity hub” in Berlin also reflects this shift as it is intentionally built to help refugees build careers and community in Germany. The war also has shaped literature and the bookshelves reach for. The New York Times piece on Ukrainian children’s books describes titles that help not only children but families grapple with the separation, exile, and death in a language children can understand. Providing children with words to describe the challenges their families have faced as well as to the wider audience of kids who may know someone affected, that be a neighbor, classmate, or friend.
With much of the vocabulary coming from the battlefield, I could not help but think about how even the war itself has been shaped by mass-produced AI drone technology. Listening to the Reuters podcast “Drone Wars” I began to learn how war is often fought in a way that whoever gains air superiority first holds the ultimate advantage. The podcast largely frames Ukraine as being a testing ground for the next generation of weapons. I also began to wonder as artificial intelligence becomes more and more integrated into military technology, how can political leaders hold these machines accountable especially as the decision making process becomes more autonomous. From a social media perspective, the visibility of these drone attacks has also shaped the content of the war and literature representing it, so representing it in a way that is digestible to the minds of young readers is something I find fascinating.
Beyond the technological advances, ordinary life in Berlin has been shaped by the active presence of the war in the foreground. Those living in Germany are learning to cope with a war they have escaped whilst also being reminded of the ever presence of it ripping apart the very place they call home. While the emergency may be deemed over, the war is not. This being felt in Berlin which has reported a marked increase in attacks on refugee shelters amidst the far right political movements. Anti-migrant rhetoric coupled with the hardening of German migration policy has made these populations a target and settling into Berlin a challenge in this current political climate. Moving forward, I hope to pay closer attention to how their religion and culture will be shaped by communities in Berlin as their lives become more deeply rooted in Germany. Watching the documentary Faith Under Siege made me also wonder how religious unity and faith is becoming a coping mechanism to the refugees trying to stay connected across borders.
