Political education
“Democracy is not a guarantee of happiness, but rather the result of political education and fundamental democratic convictions.” Anyone who shares Theodor Heuss’ ideas and would like to find out more about politics is certain to find these links very useful.
bpb - Federal Agency for Civic Education
Informed, critical and active - that‘s how responsible citizens should be when they get involved in their social environment. The Federal Agency for Civic Education (bpb) provides interested persons with a wide variety of information on political topics and seeks to reinforce democratic consciousness. In cooperation with state agencies and educational institutions, the bpb has been working since 1952 to develop discussions on current as well as historical issues.
National Foundation for the Reconciliation of the SED Dictatorship
The SED – the Socialist Unity Party of Germany – governed the German Democratic Republic from 1946 to 1989. Among other things, the National Foundation for the Reconciliation of the SED Dictatorship has been dealing with the repercussions of the SED’s politics on Germany as a whole, since the country’s reunification in 1989. The Foundation has its headquarters in Berlin. Go online here to get the information you need on the Foundation’s projects and documentations; counseling is also available to victims of the communist party dictatorship. Anyone interested in history can browse through the archive and the special scientific library. The “Kalendarium” makes a note of special commemoration dates and contains a current program of events.
History of the Berlin Wall
On August 13, 1961, streets in Berlin were torn up, barricades set up and barbed-wire fences erected. By the next day, 800 inhabitants of East Berlin had fled to West Berlin.
Fluter
Spotlight on politics and culture: fluter, the print edition of the young people’s magazine published by the Federal Center for Political Education (Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung – bpb) appears quarterly. The online format that features 10 major political topics that change annually is available to surfers on a daily basis. In reports and other articles, young authors explore such topics as elections, globalization or networking, take a look “behind the scenes”, focus on individual aspects of a problem, present different points of view and arguments. The topics are illuminated in their socio-political context in literary and film reviews.
Political Education
From recent German history right on up to global social debates: the Political Education portal provides information from the central federal office and the state offices for political education at one internet address. The portal is operated by the German National Project Group for Political Education Online (BAG). Whether you are teaching, learning or just going through life with your eyes wide open, you’ll find a lot of food for thought, facts and download material on this portal. Use the common web catalog operated by the central offices to find specific information on topics that interest you, e.g. the “path to German unity”, the “global economy in crisis” or “energy and sustainability”. You’ll also find link tips, a program of events and information on current e-learning courses.
Qantara.de
“Qantara” means “bridge” in Arabic. This website, operated by the Federal Office for Political Education, the “Deutsche Welle”, the Goethe Institute Inter Nationes and the Institute for Foreign Relations, invites users to engage in dialog with the world of Islam.
