Urban culture and ethnic representation: Berlin and Moscow as emerging "world cities"?

Berlin and Moscow two new capitals that, since the fall of the Berlin wall and the collapse of the USSR respectively, have been redesigning their urban and national identities, acting as social laboratories. At the same time the two capitals are attempting to reposition themselves in the global reference system of world cities. In exactly what way does this tension between national and global politics of identity manifest itself on symbolic and cultural levels? How does it shape specific everyday practices (Alltagspraxen) in Berlin and Moscow? <br>
In order to answer these questions this project examines from an ethnographic perspective the urban cultures of Berlin and Moscow as they emerge as world cities. Ethnic representation serves as one indicator of the world city in each specific context. <br>
The research project comprises three levels of analysis:<br>
Cultural and symbolic politics of identity are central to the analysis of discourse in each city. Special attention is paid to the discursive images that are being created to convey certain messages and which place each city in its respective national, European and global contexts.<br>
A second perspective looks at status, form and practice of ethnic representation within urban culture. It examines cultural self-representation of institutions and organisations.
The third perspective examines urban everyday practices , which may also have an ethnic component. These include, for example, arts and cultural scenes, as well as forms and products of consumption.<br>
The discursive images of the cities give structure to the perceptions and the practices of the urban population. Conversely, the practices of representation and everyday life contribute to shaping the urban landscape and the images of the cities. By analysing this mutual influence between discourse and practice using specific examples this study proposes to contribute to an anthropology of the city.