DE EN
Voices & Positions Controversial Kinship

Perspectives and Positions. Interview with Emma Kuby about colonial and Nazi camps

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 Emma Kuby, University of Wisconsin-Madison, talks about colonial and Nazi camps in a video interview:

“I think comparison is a valid and important mode of scholarly analysis. This is kind of fundamental to human thought, right? We think through comparison. This is how we engage in drawing distinctions, both analytical distinctions, and how we engage in moral reasoning. But there are a number of pitfalls that are possible for both scholars and activists, really, in drawing comparisons between the Nazi concentration camp system and camps that are used in colonial contexts.”

[Translate to English:] Portrait Emma Kuby
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.

Emma Kuby

Emma Kuby is a historian at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

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.