No Cuts for the Federal Agency for Civic Education!
No Cuts for the Federal Agency for Civic Education!
The Issue
Open Letter in Support for Federal Agency for Civic Education
We, scholars of the Holocaust, Nazi Germany, and Jewish history, call on the German ministry of interior to rethink and withdraw the budget cuts for the Federal Agency for Civic Education (BpB).
Founded in 1952, the BpB has been crucial in hands on, concrete education to democracy and critical facing of the past. Today, it is the address for teenagers, students, as well as general audience who want to learn more about controversial topics, complex history, or simply topics they would like to be more informed about.
The supplement Aus Politik und Zeitgeschichte has been at the forefront of introducing complex and new topics in an easy to follow and understandable way. The APuZ has covered Ukraine, German Black History, queer history, genetic technology, and inclusive language, topics that some legacy media still refuse to tackle (or if they do, then to belittle). The APuZ has covered these topics most impressively. The BpB also publishes book series that makes important new monographs widely affordable, whether we speak about Michael Rothberg’s Multidirectional Memory or Monika Black’s A Demon-Haunted Land.
In the past decade, we have seen a disturbing rise of antisemitism, Holocaust denial, and far-right extremism across the globe—including in Germany. These anti-democratic tendencies, which portend a potential resurgence of fascism, are fueled in large part by the spread of misinformation, lies, and hate speech. In particular, the Internet and social media have become echo chambers of misinformation, which are increasingly dangerous, anonymous, and difficult to regulate. Combatting these tendencies is of the utmost importance. Maintaining a democratic society of rational, civil, and informed discourse can only be achieved by systematic humanistic education.
Moreover, the BpB is an institution that sponsors but also promotes global cooperation, in a setting where many German universities are often insular, or very set in their networks. This outlook for global partnerships keeps the BpB open to new trends, prevents gatekeeping and fosters diversity and inclusivity.
We are experts on the Holocaust and Nazism. This is why we urge Germany to be militant about maintaining democracy, not least because those among us from the United States, Poland, the United Kingdom, and Israel know all too well how quickly matters can change. The BpB leads the way in maintaining the legacies of liberal democracy and antifascism.
First signatories:
1. Anna Hájková, Reader in Modern European Continental History, University of Warwick, UK
2. Michelle Kahn, Assistant Professor of Modern European History, University of Richmond, US
3. Thomas Kühne, Strassler Colin Flug Chair in Holocaust History, Clark University, US
4. Benjamin Hett, Professor of History, Hunter College and the Graduate Center CUNY, US
5. Anika Walke, Georgie W. Lewis Career Development Professor, Washington University, St Louis, US
6. Brian J Griffith, Assistant Professor of Modern European History, California State University, Fresno, US, co-curator of the New Fascism Syllabus
7. Michael Rothberg, 1939 Society Samuel Goetz Chair in Holocaust Studies, UCLA, US
8. Eli Rubin, Professor, Department of History, Western Michigan University, US
9. Jay Geller, Samuel Rosenthal Professor of Judaic Studies, Case Western University, US
10. Christoph Mick, Professor of Modern European History, University of Warwick, UK
11. Hana Kubátová, assistant professor, History, Charles University, Czech Republic
12. Jennifer Evans, Professor, Department of History, Carleton University, Canada; co-curator of the New Fascism Syllabus
13. Darcy Buerkle, Professor, Department of History, Smith College, Northampton, MA. USA
14. Kenneth F. Ledford, Associate Professor of History and Law Co-Director, Max Kade Center for German Studies Department of History, Case Western Reserve University, US
15. Joachim Whaley FBA, Emeritus Professor of German History and Thought, University of Cambridge, UK
16. Sarah Cushman, Director of the Holocaust Educational Foundation, Northwestern University, Evanston, US
17. Bertrand Perz, Institut für Zeitgeschichte, Universität Wien, Austria
18. Amos Goldberg, associate professor, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
19. Philipp Stelzel, Associate Professor of History, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, US
20. Karin Friedrich, Professor of History and Chair of the German History Society UK, University of Aberdeen, UK
4,118
The Issue
Open Letter in Support for Federal Agency for Civic Education
We, scholars of the Holocaust, Nazi Germany, and Jewish history, call on the German ministry of interior to rethink and withdraw the budget cuts for the Federal Agency for Civic Education (BpB).
Founded in 1952, the BpB has been crucial in hands on, concrete education to democracy and critical facing of the past. Today, it is the address for teenagers, students, as well as general audience who want to learn more about controversial topics, complex history, or simply topics they would like to be more informed about.
The supplement Aus Politik und Zeitgeschichte has been at the forefront of introducing complex and new topics in an easy to follow and understandable way. The APuZ has covered Ukraine, German Black History, queer history, genetic technology, and inclusive language, topics that some legacy media still refuse to tackle (or if they do, then to belittle). The APuZ has covered these topics most impressively. The BpB also publishes book series that makes important new monographs widely affordable, whether we speak about Michael Rothberg’s Multidirectional Memory or Monika Black’s A Demon-Haunted Land.
In the past decade, we have seen a disturbing rise of antisemitism, Holocaust denial, and far-right extremism across the globe—including in Germany. These anti-democratic tendencies, which portend a potential resurgence of fascism, are fueled in large part by the spread of misinformation, lies, and hate speech. In particular, the Internet and social media have become echo chambers of misinformation, which are increasingly dangerous, anonymous, and difficult to regulate. Combatting these tendencies is of the utmost importance. Maintaining a democratic society of rational, civil, and informed discourse can only be achieved by systematic humanistic education.
Moreover, the BpB is an institution that sponsors but also promotes global cooperation, in a setting where many German universities are often insular, or very set in their networks. This outlook for global partnerships keeps the BpB open to new trends, prevents gatekeeping and fosters diversity and inclusivity.
We are experts on the Holocaust and Nazism. This is why we urge Germany to be militant about maintaining democracy, not least because those among us from the United States, Poland, the United Kingdom, and Israel know all too well how quickly matters can change. The BpB leads the way in maintaining the legacies of liberal democracy and antifascism.
First signatories:
1. Anna Hájková, Reader in Modern European Continental History, University of Warwick, UK
2. Michelle Kahn, Assistant Professor of Modern European History, University of Richmond, US
3. Thomas Kühne, Strassler Colin Flug Chair in Holocaust History, Clark University, US
4. Benjamin Hett, Professor of History, Hunter College and the Graduate Center CUNY, US
5. Anika Walke, Georgie W. Lewis Career Development Professor, Washington University, St Louis, US
6. Brian J Griffith, Assistant Professor of Modern European History, California State University, Fresno, US, co-curator of the New Fascism Syllabus
7. Michael Rothberg, 1939 Society Samuel Goetz Chair in Holocaust Studies, UCLA, US
8. Eli Rubin, Professor, Department of History, Western Michigan University, US
9. Jay Geller, Samuel Rosenthal Professor of Judaic Studies, Case Western University, US
10. Christoph Mick, Professor of Modern European History, University of Warwick, UK
11. Hana Kubátová, assistant professor, History, Charles University, Czech Republic
12. Jennifer Evans, Professor, Department of History, Carleton University, Canada; co-curator of the New Fascism Syllabus
13. Darcy Buerkle, Professor, Department of History, Smith College, Northampton, MA. USA
14. Kenneth F. Ledford, Associate Professor of History and Law Co-Director, Max Kade Center for German Studies Department of History, Case Western Reserve University, US
15. Joachim Whaley FBA, Emeritus Professor of German History and Thought, University of Cambridge, UK
16. Sarah Cushman, Director of the Holocaust Educational Foundation, Northwestern University, Evanston, US
17. Bertrand Perz, Institut für Zeitgeschichte, Universität Wien, Austria
18. Amos Goldberg, associate professor, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
19. Philipp Stelzel, Associate Professor of History, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, US
20. Karin Friedrich, Professor of History and Chair of the German History Society UK, University of Aberdeen, UK
4,118
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Petition created on September 1, 2023