August Bebel Institute

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August Bebel (1898)

The August Bebel Institute (ABI) is a non-profit organization for political education in Berlin (West). It has its seat at Müllerstrasse 163, the Berlin SPD headquarters , the Berlin Kurt-Schumacher-Haus . The ABI was founded in 1947 by four newspaper publishers. She held her first courses in the house of the Wannsee Conference .

history

The August Bebel Institute was founded on March 25, 1947 by four Berlin newspaper publishers. Among the social democratic personalities behind the publishers were Arno Scholz (1904–1971), editor of the “ Telegraf ”, Alfons Schöpflin (1898–1970), license holder of the newspaper “Sozialdemokrat”, Erich Lezinsky (1886–1952), founder of the “ Spandauer Volksblatt ”, and Otto Suhr (1894–1957), then head of the city ​​council and later the governing mayor .

The institute was named after August Bebel (1840–1913) in memory of the pioneer for democracy and socialism .

At the time, one of the institute's greatest tasks was to promote the development of democracy in post-war Berlin . The ABI wanted to enable social forces to think independently about politics and not just convey knowledge. Five to twelve- day courses were held in the boarding school in the Wannseevilla . The curriculum included " Marxism as a Method," history, economics, democracy and totalitarianism, and party theory. Special courses on the history of the labor movement , on philosophical topics or on the topic of Bolshevism , as well as courses for women and speakers were offered.

However, due to a lack of funds from the founding publishers, the house had to be given up in the early 1950s. The ABI moved to the party headquarters in Zietenstrasse and the offer switched to evening courses. With the help of innovative ideas, the ABI was able to compensate for the currency reform and the resulting crisis: Cooperation with other institutions, a varied program and established teachers strengthened the work of the institute. During this time, the donations from the sponsors as well as the work of volunteers made a broad program possible. Courses for young politicians and for people with a strong political understanding also enriched the democratic process in the 1970s. With the reunification , the institute experienced an increased demand for political and democratic education. Special programs were developed for citizens of East Berlin who wanted to get involved in politics.

subjects

The institute initiates the dialogue between different groups for a democratic urban culture through a variety of events. This does not only include target group-oriented seminars for schoolchildren, local politicians or senior citizens. A broad audience from all sections of the population as well as from socially and politically active organizations and institutions is invited to open lectures and discussions. The topics are:

City and local politics

This subject area includes integration and migration policy issues, future projects for the city that are designed by the citizens , and local political education offers that support politically interested and committed people.

Contemporary history

The ABI makes a contribution to contemporary historical awareness, especially in relation to the history of the labor movement , the idea of social democracy , the resistance under National Socialism and the development of political Berlin .

Current topics

The institute picks up on current developments in a timely manner and dedicates a broad and diverse spectrum to them: anti-Semitism , human rights , town twinning , right-wing radicalism, and education and consumer policy, to name just a few.

Young people

In addition, interest representation is particularly promoted by young people and encouraged to participate in society . "Reclaim the school!" Is the label for events for student representatives .

Democratic culture

In recent years, the August Bebel Institute has developed a focus on dealing with right-wing radicalism and anti-Semitism. His political argumentation trainings and educational offers for young people, student representatives , politically committed people and multipliers make an important contribution to the development of a democratic culture and strategies against right-wing extremist movements. As an educational institution in Berlin , dealing with issues of integration and migration is a particular concern of the institution. Questions of the transcultural dialogue are of great importance in Berlin.

structure

The ABI is supported by the non-profit foundation Institute for Social Democracy . The August Bebel Institute is advised by a program advisory board for the annual planning. The educational work of the institute is carried out by a multidisciplinary and intercultural team of lecturers.

The work of the institute is supported by 130 regular donors and institutionally funded by the State Center for Civic Education Berlin. The Federal Agency for Civic Education supports the majority of the seminars with project funds. There is also important support from the Berlin Senate Commissioner for Integration and Migration.

executive Director

  • 1947–1974: Eberhard Hesse and Otto Bach
  • 1976–1979: Hans Robert Joepgen
  • 1979–1983: Dieter Fitterling
  • 1983–1988: Reinhold Schattenfroh
  • 1988–2000: Reinhard Gericke
  • 2000-2006: Enrico Troebst
  • 2006–2017: Ingo Siebert
  • since 2018: Reinhard Wenzel

Board member of the supporting foundation of the August Bebel Institute

Program Advisory Board of the August Bebel Institute, previously appointed (as of February 1, 2019)

Cooperation partner

The institute's cooperation partners include a .:

AKEBİ eV (activist association against racism, nationalism and discrimination), Active Museum of Fascism and Resistance in Berlin , Berlin Postkolonial eV, Berlin Poverty Conference, BiwAK eV - Educational Center for Alternative Local Policy, Federal Center for Civic Education, Berlin-Brandenburg Food Council, Women's Museum Berlin, Friedrich- Ebert Foundation, Cemetery of the March Fallen - Paul-Singer-Verein eV, Genossenschaftsforum eV, Kommunalpolitisches Forum Berlin eV, Kulturforum Stadt Berlin der Sozialdemokratie eV, Moviemento , Network Political Education, New German Media Makers , Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung, Schmetterling Verlag, self-help in early retirement eV,

The ABI is a member of the Berlin Educational Institutions Working Group and the Berlin Workers' Welfare Association.

literature

  • Reinhard Gericke (Ed.): 50 Years of the August Bebel Institute , 2007.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Archive link ( Memento of the original from September 28, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.spd-berlin.de


Coordinates: 52 ° 32 '37.4 "  N , 13 ° 21' 46.9"  E