Home

Gastheorie

Gastheorie (Host Theory) is a term used across disciplines to describe theoretical approaches that analyze hosting, hospitality, and the social dynamics between hosts and guests. It treats hosting as a structured practice embedded in social norms, power relations, and cultural expectations, rather than a mere act of kindness.

There is no single, unified theory; rather, the term marks a family of perspectives in sociology, anthropology,

Core concepts include the host's obligations to provide space, safety, and respectful treatment; the guest's obligations

Applications of Gastheorie appear in analyses of everyday encounters, immigration and hospitality policies, tourism, and representations

Critics warn against essentialist readings of host and guest roles, highlighting context, power asymmetries, and cultural

See also: Hospitality; Host-guest relationship; Hospitality ethics.

literary
and
cultural
studies.
In
philosophy
and
critical
theory,
related
ideas
are
discussed
under
the
rubric
of
hospitality,
including
Derrida's
exploration
of
the
gift
and
responsibility
of
welcoming
the
stranger,
which
has
influenced
discussions
of
openness,
sovereignty,
and
obligation.
to
respect
boundaries
and
norms;
and
the
negotiation
of
power,
vulnerability,
and
reciprocity
within
physical
and
symbolic
spaces
such
as
homes,
institutions,
and
cities.
Gastheorie
often
emphasizes
hospitality
as
a
moral
economy
and
a
site
of
cultural
encounter,
where
welcoming
procedures,
ritualized
gestures,
and
institutional
practices
reflect
broader
social
values.
of
"the
other"
in
literature
and
film.
It
also
raises
questions
about
inclusion,
exclusion,
and
how
welcome
is
negotiated
in
multicultural
societies,
workplaces,
and
international
relations.
difference.
The
term
remains
diffuse
and
is
used
with
varying
emphases
across
disciplines.