معرفی
Professor Kai Hafez serves as Chair of Communication Studies with a focus on Comparative Analysis of Media Systems and Communication Cultures at the University of Erfurt's Faculty of Philosophy. He also holds the position of MA Program Coordinator for Global Communication and serves as an appointment officer for the Faculty. With over three decades of academic work, Hafez has established himself as a leading scholar in intercultural communication, media systems analysis, and media coverage of Islam and the Middle East.
His research interests span comparative media systems analysis, intercultural communication, media ethics, global journalism, and the intersection of right-wing populism with media coverage. Hafez has extensively examined how Western media represent Islam and Muslim communities, contributing significantly to understanding media-driven Islamophobia in European contexts. His work also explores the relationship between media, democracy, and political communication, particularly in transitional societies.
Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong focus on contemporary challenges in media and communication, including the impact of digital platforms on public discourse, the representation of Islam and Muslims in media, and the complex relationship between media coverage and right-wing populism. His work increasingly addresses methodological questions in international communication research, advocating for deeper internationalization of the field beyond superficial global comparisons.
Professor Hafez has supervised numerous research projects funded by prestigious organizations including the German Research Foundation (DFG), the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), and the Volkswagen Foundation. He has served as scientific advisor for projects examining anti-Muslim racism in political parties, mass media, social media, film, and theater.
He is actively engaged in public discourse as a media commentator for major German outlets including ARD, ZDF, RTL, and prominent newspapers such as Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung and Süddeutsche Zeitung. Since 2020, he has served as an appointed member of the Independent Expert Group on Anti-Muslim Racism (UEM) of the Federal Ministry of the Interior, contributing his expertise to national policy discussions on racism and discrimination.
Professor Hafez is also involved in several academic networks and editorial boards, including serving as editor of book series on 'Media and Political Communication - Middle East and Islamic World' and 'International and Intercultural Communication.' His international recognition is evidenced by invitations to speak at prestigious institutions worldwide, including Oxford, Cambridge, Georgetown, and the London School of Economics.
