Erhard Forndran

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Erhard Forndran (born January 26, 1938 in Kiel ; † April 10, 2018 in Edemissen ) was a German political scientist .

Life

Erhard Forndran was born in Kiel on January 26, 1938. After graduating from high school and serving in the German Navy, he studied political science, philosophy, history and mathematics in Bonn and Berlin. In 1967 Erhard Forndran was awarded a Dr. phil. doctorate and in 1972 he qualified as a professor. In 1968 he became a research assistant at the chair of Karl Dietrich Bracher . After being elected by the Senate of the DFG, he became a full-time member and chairman of the Commission for Peace and Conflict Research of the DFG in 1972. Also in 1972 he was appointed Scientific Councilor and Professor in Neuss. In 1974 he was a substitute professor and then appointed to the chair of international politics in Bochum. In 1976 Erhard Forndran accepted a chair for political science in Braunschweig. In 1979 he turned down a call to the chair of political science in Kassel. In 1992 he went to Magdeburg as a founding professor and founding dean and took over the chair for international relations and political theory. From 1985 to 1989 he was dean and senator in Braunschweig and from 1992 to 1996 founding dean, dean and senator in Magdeburg. From 1989 to 1991 he was chairman of the German Society for Political Science , from 1972 to 2006 a member of the DGFK funding committee, the DFG Senate commission for peace research and expert reviewer at the DFG.

Reviews of three works

Disarmament and arms control. Historical experiences and theoretical problems.

In his study “Disarmament and Arms Control. Historical experiences and theoretical problems. ”E. Forndran tries to analyze arms control efforts and their concrete implementation in international relations. The study begins with the introduction to the subject area and the definition of the field of study. At the same time, Forndran formulates a first historical overview, whereby the political development of the Soviet Union during the Cold War is of central importance. In the following, disarmament and arms control developments are explained using a few examples and the so-called Salt I and Salt II treaties are discussed in more detail. Forndran, the question arises as to whether and to what extent the internationally valid agreements (especially with regard to the negotiations between the USA and the USSR ) had real political consequences. The theoretical problems addressed here are shown and analyzed at other points in the study. Forndran also establishes a connection between disarmament or arms control and security, military and treaty policy with the focus on the East-West conflict. Here, too, questions are asked about the implementation options and implementation of the negotiations, contracts, etc. In the last part of the "Mini-Study" Forndran gives an outlook on the future and possible development of arms control within the framework of international agreements, whereby it must be pointed out that at the time of the publication of the study (1981) the following developments of the years 1989/90 were not yet foreseeable.

The United States of America and Europe. Experiences and perspectives of transatlantic relations since the First World War

In this publication Forndran tries to trace the development of transatlantic relations after the end of the First World War up to the year 1990, i.e. over a period of seventy years. Forndran sees not only the United States of America and Western Europe as important actors, but also the Soviet Union and the Central and Eastern European countries. The author regards the relationship patterns between these players as extremely complex and above all subject to constant change. But not only states are considered in this work, the influence of non-state actors such as multinational corporations is also examined. A special focus is of course on the relationship between the two superpowers, the USA and the USSR. The author takes into account diplomatic relations and security policy in his analysis, but economics and technology also play an important role for him. He will also talk about the effects of democracy transfer and political cultures that have found supporters across national borders on both sides of the Atlantic. He tries to recognize and name processes and structures in transatlantic relations, whereby a smooth transition between cooperation, competition and conflict is becoming apparent. In view of the abundance and complexity of the subject, only excerpts can be examined. By naming concepts, behavior patterns of the actors become more predictable, which are reflected in agreements, contracts and the formation of joint institutions. Forndran sees transnational relations as characterized more by change than by continuity, which he attributes to internal political security of rule and an increase in the international division of labor. With a view to the prospects of transatlantic relations, Forndran looked at the issues of security policy on both sides, the development of future economic relations and the effects of the relations on world politics.

Democracy and a democratic state in crisis?

“Democracy and a democratic state in crisis?” Is the current work by Erhard Forndran. Forndran deals in his book, as the title suggests, with the discussion of whether and to what extent the democratic state is capable of acting and enjoys acceptance among the population (keyword: disaffection with politics). Forndran presents the different opinions on the above-mentioned topic in great detail and analyzes them critically. Forndran also tries to gain knowledge from the history of political theory in order to later introduce the reader to the "possibility of a holistic theory of democracy". The individual actors and fields of action in democracy are examined more closely. Furthermore, Forndran makes a diagnosis of the times in which he presents the problem areas of the present - social policy, fragmentation, etc. - and analyzes options for action and consequences for the national and international level in more detail.

Research priorities

The extensive scientific work of Erhard Forndran is characterized by research on the theory and practice of peacekeeping, transatlantic relations as well as democracy or democratic theory, transformation and the constitutional state. During his career, Forndran developed various research focuses. His doctoral and habilitation topics - arms control, disarmament and peacekeeping - run like a red thread through his work, but he also examined the areas of "Possibilities and limits of theory formation", "Theories of democracy ", "Transformation" and " Constitutional state ". Another field of research is dealing with the subject of National Socialism , including the work “The City and Industry Foundations Wolfsburg and Salzgitter. Decision-making processes in the National Socialist system of rule ”. In addition to the aforementioned fields of research, Forndran also deals with the subjects of classics of political thought, the history of the East-West conflict and peace research in the course of his teaching activities.

As dean, as head of the Institute for Political Science and as a member of the Faculty Council and the Senate, he played a decisive role in shaping the profile of the Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences and Education and the University of Magdeburg. In 2003 he was made an honorary senator of the university. It is thanks to his tireless work and committed action that the faculty has developed into a recognized part of Magdeburg University with an innovative profile, especially in teaching. The peace and conflict research master’s course he established in 2003 also contributed to this. In this course of study, his theoretical and analytical knowledge and results from decades of peace research and the increasing demands on concrete conflict management and prevention are combined in a special way.

Two commemorative publications are dedicated to Forndran:

  • KP Fritzsche, F. Hörnlein (Ed.): Peace and Democracy. Baden-Baden, 1998.
  • D. Fricke, J. Meyer (Ed.): Security in a new world. Frankfurt, 2003.

Forndran was a sought-after expert on academic and scientific committees.

Publications

  • Arms control. Securing peace between deterrence and disarmament. Series: War and Peace. Contributions to basic problems of international politics, ed. in connection with EO Czempiel, K. Kaiser, HP Schwarz, G. Ziebura by U. Nerlich, Bertelsmann Universitätsverlag, Düsseldorf 1970, 272 pages.
  • Problems of international disarmament. Efforts towards disarmament and cooperative arms control 1962–1968. With an introduction by Ulrich Scheuner. Series: Arms Control and Security. Writings of the research institute of the German Society for Foreign Policy Volume 8, A. Metzner Verlag, Frankfurt and Berlin 1970, XXVIII and 450 pages.
  • Disarmament and peace research. Criticism of E. Krippendorff, D. Senghaas and Th. Ebert. Series: Concepts of Social Science. Volume 2, Bertelsmann Universitätsverlag, Düsseldorf 1971, 149 pages.
  • Together with U. v. Alemann: Methodology of Political Science. An introduction to work technology and research practice, Kohlhammer Verlag, Stuttgart 1974, 2nd edition 1979, 3rd edition 1985, 182 pages, 4th revised and expanded edition 1990, 196 pages, 7th afterword edition 2005, 199 pages.
  • Disarmament and arms control. Historical experiences and theoretical problems. Series: Contributions to contemporary history. Volume 7, Colloquium Verlag, Berlin 1981, 94 pages.
  • The founding of cities and industries in Wolfsburg and Salzgitter. Decision-making processes in the National Socialist system of rule. Campus Verlag, Frankfurt and New York 1984, 447 pages.
  • The United States of America and Europe. Experiences and perspectives of transatlantic relations since the First World War. Series: military, armaments, security. Edited by S. Lutz, Volume 65, Nomos Verlag, Baden-Baden 1991, 531 pages.
  • Democracy and a democratic state in crisis? A question of theory and practice about their options and limits of action. Nomos Verlag Baden-Baden 2002, 318 pages.

Published books

  • Together with F. Golczewski and D. Riesenberger: Domestic and Foreign Policy under National Socialist Threat. Determinants of International Relations in Historical Case Studies. Westdeutscher Verlag, Opladen 1977, 361 pages.
  • Together with HJ Hummell and H. Süssmuth: Degree in Social Sciences. To define a subject. Schwann Verlag, Düsseldorf 1978, 230 pages.
  • Together with Fr. Friedrich: Arms control and security in Europe. Series: Armaments restriction and security, writings of the research institute of the German Society for Foreign Policy Volume 14, Europa Union Verlag, Bonn 1979, 374 pages.
  • Together with U. v. Alemann: Interests and politics. Interest as a basic term in social science teaching and analysis. Westdeutscher Verlag, Opladen 1983, 177 pages.
  • Together with G. Krell: Nuclear weapons in an East-West comparison. To assess military potential and capabilities. Nomos Verlag, Baden-Baden 1984, 526 pages.
  • Together with HJ Schmidt: Conventional armament in an East-West comparison. To assess military potential and capabilities. Nomos Verlag, Baden-Baden 1986, 733 pages.
  • Religion and Politics in a Secularized World. Publications of the German Society for Political Science, Volume 9, Nomos Verlag, Baden-Baden 1991, 180 pages.
  • Politics after the East-West Conflict. Publications of the German Society for Political Science, Volume 10, Nomos Verlag, Baden-Baden 1992, 206 pages.
  • Together with H. Pohlman: European security after the end of the Warsaw Pact. Series: International Politics and Security. Edited by the Science and Politics Foundation, Volume 33, Nomos Verlag, Baden-Baden 1993, 395 pages.
  • Together with H.-D. Lemke: Security Policy for Europe between Consensus and Conflict. Analysis and options. Series: International Politics and Security. Edited by the Science and Politics Foundation, Volume 44, Nomos Verlag, Baden-Baden 1995, 375 pages and articles.
  • Together with G. Breit and S. Schieren: Democracy in distress? Saxony-Anhalt after the state elections in 1998. Magdeburg 1998, 144 pages.

swell

  • Erhard Forndran: Disarmament and Arms Control. Historical experiences and theoretical problems. Series: Contributions to contemporary history. Volume 7, Colloquium Verlag, Berlin 1981, 94 pages.
  • Erhard Forndran: Democracy and the Democratic State in Crisis ?. Nomos Verlag, Baden-Baden 2002, 318 pages.
  • Erhard Forndran: The United States of America and Europe. Experiences and perspectives of transatlantic relations since the First World War. Series: military, armaments, security. Edited by S. Lutz, Volume 65, Nomos Verlag, Baden-Baden 1991, 531 pages.
  • FORNDRAN Erhard; Prof. Dr. ( Memento of March 21, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) on dgfp.org, Rev. November 19, 2005.
  • Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg ( Memento from September 28, 2006 in the Internet Archive ) on uni-magdeburg.de, Rev. December 6, 2005.
  • Rev. December 7, 2005 ( Memento from September 30, 2007 in the Internet Archive )
  • Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Publications and Public Relations Department

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Obituary. Faculty of Human Sciences, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, April 11, 2018, accessed on April 18, 2018 .
personal data
SURNAME Forndran, Erhard
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German political scientist
DATE OF BIRTH January 26, 1938
PLACE OF BIRTH Kiel
DATE OF DEATH April 10, 2018
Place of death Edemissen