Fear as a leading factor in the quest for the ‘Best School’ for one's child? Reflections on the relationship between power and affect

This study examines how emotions and affective intensities – such as fear, anxiety, and defensive attitudes – influence school choice practices in the inner-city district of Berlin-Kreuzberg. Through interviews and ethnographic neighbourhood walks with parents – particularly mothers – the research gathered meaningful insights into their daily lives with their children. Parents perceived certain places, streets, and playgrounds as highly unsafe and consequently avoided them. While parents sought to protect their children by distancing themselves downwards, their expressions of racism and classism necessitated critical reflexivity on the part of the researcher. Employing affect-theoretical and power-critical frameworks, this study highlights how differing positionalities shape emotional experiences, resulting in a range of perspectives and attitudes among both researchers and participants.