Family, Care, State: Ideals of Belonging and Practices of Exclusion

The concept of the “modern” family is a central element of European self-description. Accordingly, in Europe, kinship is in decline and largely replaced by an emotionalized (nuclear or core) family, which carries little political significance. This self-image contrasts with an external perspective that assumes the persistence, even dominance, of “traditional” kinship in the past or outside of Europe. The economic and political implications of kinship organization in Europe are thus often overlooked. Moreover, this narrative of progress can lead to a devaluing of other forms of cohabitation. When it comes to family care, however, an ambivalent perspective arises. In Europe, care is perceived as requiring state support, while in other parts of the world, it seems to remain intact. “Proper” care within families thus becomes a marker of political belonging. In my lecture, I will explore both the political significance of kinship in Germany and the forms of exclusion that arise from a specific understanding of kinship care.