Bonn paper
The Bonn paper is a declaration adopted by several umbrella associations of student corporations on February 23, 1980 and expanded by an agreement on November 14, 1980. It is named after Bonn , the place where the resolutions were passed.
History and Development
In the wake of the '68 movement , during the 1970s and well into the 1980s, a low turnout of apolitical and conservative students in the university elections led to a strongly left-wing to radical left-wing scene in the student parliaments and ATS at most German universities ( see also: Göttingen Mescalero ). Particularly often criticized were u. a. the alleged abuse of the forcibly collected contributions, which were actually intended for university policy purposes (see also problems of the composed student body , social contribution ), as well as the perceived extreme political demands and the behavior of the elected officials and groups towards the state and the university.
The Bonn paper explains that the corporations involved have to protect the free democratic basic order. In doing so, they postulate an attack by totalitarian groups and ideologies on this basic order. As means for this task, inter-corporate bodies are named, which are supposed to influence university policy , the composition of student parliaments and student representatives . In addition, they undertake to hold an annual association meeting in autumn to coordinate the cooperation.
Associations involved
At that time, 17 corporation associations signed the Bonn paper :
- Academic Gymnastics Federation (ATB)
- Association of German Students (BdSt)
- Coburg Convent (CC)
- German fraternity (DB)
- German Association of Scientists (DWV)
- German Singers (DS)
- Kösener Seniors Convent Association (KSCV)
- Marburg Convention (MK)
- Miltenberg-Wernigeroder Ring (MWR)
- Association of German Student Associations (VVDSt)
- Weinheim Seniors Convent (WSC)
- Wingolfsbund
- Association of special houses
- Cartell Association of Catholic German Student Associations (CV)
- Cartel Association of Catholic German Student Associations (KV)
- Association of Scientific Catholic Student Associations Unitas
- Schwarzburgbund
Criticism of left-wing forces
Criticism of this paper has been expressed several times, especially by left-wing forces.
On the one hand, the formulation suggests a basic ideological assumption which, according to a form of totalitarianism theory , understands right-wing extremism and the radical left as structurally identical. This view is largely shared by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution and the press.
The corporations would defend by claiming the democratic constitution, seek to avoid the task to face the criticism of themselves.
On the other hand, this paper is often used as evidence that almost all corporations work together to achieve their goals, and that there is therefore no real distinction between "right-wing extremist" and moderate student associations.
Current situation
While the paper was often quoted by the corporate side in the first few years after its publication and viewed as a success of inter-corporate understanding, little has been said about it in recent years and its current importance has been denied. In university politics, the Bonn paper mainly only plays a role for liaison critics.