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Jena Declaration

December 15, 2023

The Jena Declaration is a scientific statement that questions and refutes the concept of human "races in a biological sense". It was published in September 2019 at the 112th Annual Meeting of the German Zoological Society (Deutsche Zoologische Gesellschaft) in Jena. The statement was written by leading scientists from the fields of evolutionary research, genetics and zoology, and was instrumental in influencing the legislative amendment to remove the term "Rasse" (roughly "race in a biological sense") from the German constitution.[1][2][3] With this statement, the Institute for Zoology and Evolutionary Research at Friedrich Schiller University Jena explicitly distances itself from its 20th century predecessors, especially from the controversial scholar and evolutionary biologist Ernst Haeckel, who was closely associated with the University of Jena and whose ideas of racism and eugenics are today considered scientifically untenable and morally reprehensible.[4]

Content edit

The authors of the statement, Martin S. Fischer, Uwe Hoßfeld, Johannes Krause and Stefan Richter examined the issue of alleged human "races" from a biological perspective. They clarified that this concept has no scientific justification. Scientific studies of genetic variation within and between human populations showed that the biological concept of "race" was a typological construct based on arbitrarily selected physical characteristics and did not reflect the actual genetic diversity of the human species.[5]

The Jena Declaration affirms that there are no "races" in the biological sense in humans, since the genetic variation within human populations is often greater than the genetic variation between these populations. Only in domestic animals the genetic similarity within a breed is actually greater than between breeds. Moreover, genetic differences between populations are continuous, as humans travelled long before major explorations and voyages of conquest by Europeans, creating links between populations that were geographically distant from each other. External characteristics such as skin colour, used for typological classifications or in everyday racism, are very superficial and rapidly changing biological adaptations to local conditions. In the human genome, for example, there is not a single difference among the 3.2 billion base pairs that separates Africans from non-Africans. So not only is there not a single gene that accounts for "racial" differences, there is not even a single base pair.[5]

The authors conclude that the concept of human "races" is the result of racism and not its precondition. Its use in scientific literature and social discourse often leads to misunderstandings and reinforces prejudice and discrimination. They therefore call for the term "race" to be discontinued in relation to people, except in historical or socio-political contexts where it should be understood as a social construction rather than a biological reality. They argue that the use of the term in relation to people creates a false idea of genetically separate groups and that it is important to debunk this myth in order to combat racism.

They conclude the statement with an appeal to educational institutions, media, authorities and all citizens to reconsider the German term "Rasse" and emphasise genetic diversity and humanity instead of artificial and harmful categorisations.

Impact edit

In Germany, the Declaration had a considerable impact on public debate and legislation, especially on the discussion about removing the term "Rasse" from the German constitution.[1][3]

The Jena Declaration also led to a number of publications in the field of education and learning. In the book "Den Begriff 'Rasse' überwinden: die 'Jenaer Erklärung' in der (Hoch-)Schulbildung" (Overcoming the Concept of Race: The Jena Declaration in (Higher) School Education),[6] a variety of ideas and concepts for overcoming the concept of "race" are offered. In this publication, the Jena Declaration serves as an impulse for a nationwide reorientation of (high) school education. Another example is the publication "Die Jenaer Erklärung gegen Rassismus' und ihre Anwendung im Unterricht" (The Jena Declaration against Racism and its Application in the Classroom),[7] which presents concrete examples of the application of the Jena Declaration in the classroom.

IQWiG (The independent Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care) also backs the "Jena Declaration" by ceasing to translate the term "race" as "Rasse" in its evaluations.[8]

The Institute no longer translates the term "race" as "Rasse" in its assessments.

References edit

  1. ^ a b Jena Declaration Contributes to Amendment of German Constitution. Max Planck Institute for the History of Man, accessed 23 June 2023..
  2. ^ Nachrichten Informationsdienst Wissenschaft (2019-09-10). "'Human races' do not exist". nachrichten.idw-online.de (in German). Retrieved 2023-11-15.
  3. ^ a b Witting, Volker (June 13, 2020). "Germany's heated debate over 'race' in the constitution – DW – 06/13/2020". dw.com. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
  4. ^ mdr.de: Jenaer Forscher: Menschenrassen gibt es nicht | MDR.DE. Accessed 6 July 2023.
  5. ^ a b Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology (2019-09-10). "Jenaer Erklärung". www.shh.mpg.de. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
  6. ^ Karl Porges: . Verlag Julius Klinkhardt, Bad Heilbrunn 2023, ISBN 978-3-7815-6008-6, doi:10.35468/6008.
  7. ^ Karl Porges, Uwe Hoßfeld: . Ed.: Thüringer Ministerium für Bildung, Jugend und Sport. Erfurt 2023, ISBN 978-3-9821193-7-3 (thueringen.de [PDF]).
  8. ^ IQWiG (The independent Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care) (2020-02-10). "IQWiG supports the "Jena Declaration" | IQWiG.de". IQWiG. Retrieved 2023-11-15.

External links edit

  • Jena Declaration
  • The Jena Declaration: Jena, Haeckel and the Question of Human Races, or, Racism Creates Races

December 15, 2023
jena, declaration, scientific, statement, that, questions, refutes, concept, human, races, biological, sense, published, september, 2019, 112th, annual, meeting, german, zoological, society, deutsche, zoologische, gesellschaft, jena, statement, written, leadin. The Jena Declaration is a scientific statement that questions and refutes the concept of human races in a biological sense It was published in September 2019 at the 112th Annual Meeting of the German Zoological Society Deutsche Zoologische Gesellschaft in Jena The statement was written by leading scientists from the fields of evolutionary research genetics and zoology and was instrumental in influencing the legislative amendment to remove the term Rasse roughly race in a biological sense from the German constitution 1 2 3 With this statement the Institute for Zoology and Evolutionary Research at Friedrich Schiller University Jena explicitly distances itself from its 20th century predecessors especially from the controversial scholar and evolutionary biologist Ernst Haeckel who was closely associated with the University of Jena and whose ideas of racism and eugenics are today considered scientifically untenable and morally reprehensible 4 Contents 1 Content 2 Impact 3 References 4 External linksContent editThe authors of the statement Martin S Fischer Uwe Hossfeld Johannes Krause and Stefan Richter examined the issue of alleged human races from a biological perspective They clarified that this concept has no scientific justification Scientific studies of genetic variation within and between human populations showed that the biological concept of race was a typological construct based on arbitrarily selected physical characteristics and did not reflect the actual genetic diversity of the human species 5 The Jena Declaration affirms that there are no races in the biological sense in humans since the genetic variation within human populations is often greater than the genetic variation between these populations Only in domestic animals the genetic similarity within a breed is actually greater than between breeds Moreover genetic differences between populations are continuous as humans travelled long before major explorations and voyages of conquest by Europeans creating links between populations that were geographically distant from each other External characteristics such as skin colour used for typological classifications or in everyday racism are very superficial and rapidly changing biological adaptations to local conditions In the human genome for example there is not a single difference among the 3 2 billion base pairs that separates Africans from non Africans So not only is there not a single gene that accounts for racial differences there is not even a single base pair 5 The authors conclude that the concept of human races is the result of racism and not its precondition Its use in scientific literature and social discourse often leads to misunderstandings and reinforces prejudice and discrimination They therefore call for the term race to be discontinued in relation to people except in historical or socio political contexts where it should be understood as a social construction rather than a biological reality They argue that the use of the term in relation to people creates a false idea of genetically separate groups and that it is important to debunk this myth in order to combat racism They conclude the statement with an appeal to educational institutions media authorities and all citizens to reconsider the German term Rasse and emphasise genetic diversity and humanity instead of artificial and harmful categorisations Impact editIn Germany the Declaration had a considerable impact on public debate and legislation especially on the discussion about removing the term Rasse from the German constitution 1 3 The Jena Declaration also led to a number of publications in the field of education and learning In the book Den Begriff Rasse uberwinden die Jenaer Erklarung in der Hoch Schulbildung Overcoming the Concept of Race The Jena Declaration in Higher School Education 6 a variety of ideas and concepts for overcoming the concept of race are offered In this publication the Jena Declaration serves as an impulse for a nationwide reorientation of high school education Another example is the publication Die Jenaer Erklarung gegen Rassismus und ihre Anwendung im Unterricht The Jena Declaration against Racism and its Application in the Classroom 7 which presents concrete examples of the application of the Jena Declaration in the classroom IQWiG The independent Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care also backs the Jena Declaration by ceasing to translate the term race as Rasse in its evaluations 8 The Institute no longer translates the term race as Rasse in its assessments References edit a b Jena Declaration Contributes to Amendment of German Constitution Max Planck Institute for the History of Man accessed 23 June 2023 Nachrichten Informationsdienst Wissenschaft 2019 09 10 Human races do not exist nachrichten idw online de in German Retrieved 2023 11 15 a b Witting Volker June 13 2020 Germany s heated debate over race in the constitution DW 06 13 2020 dw com Retrieved 2023 11 15 mdr de Jenaer Forscher Menschenrassen gibt es nicht MDR DE Accessed 6 July 2023 a b Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology 2019 09 10 Jenaer Erklarung www shh mpg de Retrieved 2023 11 15 Karl Porges Verlag Julius Klinkhardt Bad Heilbrunn 2023 ISBN 978 3 7815 6008 6 doi 10 35468 6008 Karl Porges Uwe Hossfeld Ed Thuringer Ministerium fur Bildung Jugend und Sport Erfurt 2023 ISBN 978 3 9821193 7 3 thueringen de PDF IQWiG The independent Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care 2020 02 10 IQWiG supports the Jena Declaration IQWiG de IQWiG Retrieved 2023 11 15 External links editJena Declaration The Jena Declaration Jena Haeckel and the Question of Human Races or Racism Creates RacesThis article needs additional or more specific categories Please help out by adding categories to it so that it can be listed with similar articles November 2023 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Jena Declaration amp oldid 1185593345, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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