Numerous subject areas and disciplines study cultures and identities in a global sense, in close cooperation with experts in history, social and political science. East Asian studies focus on the present day; and with regard to Southern Asia, the Middle East and Northern Africa, the aspects of contemporary cultural and social anthropology are complemented by historical and philological dimensions. The Faculty is strongly committed to the further advancement of its philological core competencies that are among its key characteristics. Disciplines whose focus used to be almost exclusively on Europe have, to an increasing extent, started to discuss non-European questions, for instance with regard to the reception of the colonial heritage in Asia, Africa and Latin America. Against the background of increasing globalisation, phenomena of migration and diaspora have become more important in disciplines such as African studies and Romance studies. Owing to their expertise in various aspects of non-European societies, these disciplines have the potential to respond to changing requirements resulting from globalisation, to overcome obsolete approaches to what is regarded as foreign, and to thus contribute to social issues in a constructive way – which complements the profile of social and economic disciplines at the University.