Tasks of the Institute of Didactics of Democracy include research, development, knowledge transfer and consultancy. The Institute focuses on five key areas:
Civic awareness and participation
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Victoria Kure, unsplash
On the one hand, society is increasingly seen as becoming more detached from political issues and participation, particularly with regard to elections and party membership. On the other hand, however, it is evident that the younger generation, in particular, is primarily engaged in the social sphere and choosing unconventional forms of participation. Research projects therefore address the question of how awareness of the various forms of participation in democratic processes can be developed and strengthened. Which mental concepts offer young people and adults guidance and confidence in acting within a democracy? Which subjective ideas are embedded in civic and historical awareness, and how can they be integrated into learning processes?
Diversity and Inclusion
German society is becoming increasingly heterogeneous and is characterised by diversity. So far, there has been a lack of strategies for addressing the associated challenges, such as social inequality. Action is particularly needed in the areas of school development, curriculum and lesson planning, and teacher training. However, the question of how to achieve inclusive education also arises in non-formal youth and adult education. Research in this field focuses on the social and pedagogical processes of inclusion and exclusion. It asks how processes of inclusion and recognition can be promoted and how phenomena such as racism and marginalisation can be addressed.
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Peter Hershey, unsplash
Far-right extremism and Democracy
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Ansgar Scheffold, unsplash
Das Erkenntnisinteresse dieses Schwerpunktes bewegt sich im Spannungsfeld von Demokratiebildung und Rechtsextremismusprävention. Für die Entwicklung nachhaltiger Bildungs- und Präventionsstrategien sind die Zusammenhänge zwischen Diskursen der Ausgrenzung in der „Mitte“ der Gesellschaft sowie rechtsextremer Politikformen und Denkweisen zu erforschen. In diesem Feld spielen Fragen der Menschenrechte und der demokratischen Grundwerte eine besondere Rolle. Gefragt wird außerdem nach der Bedeutung von Politischer Bildung für eine kontinuierliche Demokratiepolitik.
National Socialism and the experience of dictatorship
Historical and civic education in Germany focuses primarily on the study of National Socialism and other dictatorial regimes. It is through an examination of tyranny and oppression that the significance of democratic values can be understood. This focus centres on researching and communicating the structures, conditions and social practices of Nazi rule, as well as examining the transformation of the ‘Nazi national community’ into a democratic civil society after 1945. In addition, the thematic areas of the GDR, the division of Germany and border regimes are also topics of interest, as they represent the post-war history of National Socialism and the Second World War.
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Jace Afsoon, unsplash
Europeanisation and Globalization
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Andrew Butler, unsplash
The global interconnection of various sectors such as business, politics and culture calls for new approaches that are suited to the global context. This raises the question of how historical and civic education can be shaped from a global perspective and how the associated challenges can be addressed. From a historical perspective, the political history of borders and the dissolution of borders—using the division of Germany as an example—will also be a central focus.