DE EN
Voices & Positions Controversial Kinship

Perspectives and Positions. Interview with Edward Kissi on the comparison between colonialism and national socialism

9 October 2026 8 Min.

Debates about the similarities and differences between colonial violence and Nazi rule have carried on since the 1930s and continue to the present day. Rooted in the fields of history, the social sciences, and cultural studies, these debates shape political discourse, media coverage, art, and the cultures of remembrance. The discussion focuses on questions of continuity, discontinuity, and comparability.

The interviews with experts as part of the exhibition “Controversial Kinship. Colonial and National Socialist Violence” present a range of perspectives and positions in the debate. Historian Edward Kissi, University of South Florida, talks about his perspective on the comparison in a video interview: 

“I tend to argue that equating German colonialism with Nazism assumes a continuity that is ahistorical, because the past is not necessarily a linear progression into the present. And one period of time does not transfer the same ideas and practices into another period of time, especially in different places, under different circumstances.”

[Translate to English:] Portrait Edward Kissi
Play video

Conversation Partner

Portrait Stephan Malinowski
Stephan Malinowski

Dr. Stephan Malinowski is the curator of the exhibition “Controversial Kinship. Colonial and National Socialist Violence” at the Deutsches Historisches Museum.

Edward Kissi

Edward Kissi is a historian at the University of South Florida.

References

Did you enjoy the article?

Send by email Subscribe

More on this topic

Voices & Positions

In addition to technically necessary cookies, our website also uses cookies for statistical analysis.

Statistics and analysis

These cookies help us obtain information about the usage and visitor behaviour on our website. This allows us to continuously improve our offering and adapt it to your needs. You can also use the website without these analysis cookies. By clicking "Select all" you agree to our use of cookies for analysis purposes. You can revoke your consent to the use of cookies at any time. Further information about cookies on this website can be found in our privacy policy and in our imprint.