After the outbreak of the war against Ukraine, scientific exchange and projects with Russia have stopped almost completely. Yet Russia is not the only country which leads military aggression, offends human rights and ignores international humanitarian standards. The broader question for scientists is: how do we cope with research in such countries or together with institutions and persons of such countries? As musicologists, we have been used to a free exchange of ideas and persons, but now such an attitude seems naïve and in need of rethinking. Our roundtable discussion aims at critically questioning the political frameworks and ethical implications of international research regarding totalitarian or otherwise undemocratic countries. To do so, we are inviting scholars from other disciplines, covering different regions of the world. The Commission for Studies Abroad hopes that this exchange will raise awareness of both the possibilities and the limits of international research.
This roundtable is part of the Jahrestagung der Gesellschaft für Musikforschung "Nach der Norm: Musikwissenschaft im 21. Jahrhundert" (Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 28 September - 1 October 2022).