Blätter
Eurozine
Blätter
2010-05-06
Summary of Blätter 5/2010
Tony Judt
Social democracy of fear. What is living and what is dead in social democracy?
Looking at the crisis of social democracy, historian Tony Judt explores the tensions between predominating economic imperatives and social democratic values. While the latter are currently facing various challenges, Judt suggests ways to preserve and protect the welfare state.
Oskar Negt
Labour union duties
Why times of crisis rarely promote insights
According to sociologist Oskar Negt, labour unions are supposed to offer alternative solutions to the existing social order as well as to the current economic crisis. To enhance their shrinking power, unions need to extend their sphere of action and to include formerly marginalised groups.
Birgit Mahnkopf
Change of power. Disenchanting the neo-liberal credo
The global economic and financial crisis has shattered neo-liberal ideas. Simultaneously, the political hegemony of neo-liberalism persists. Birgit Mahnkopf, professor for social policy, contests key elements of neo-liberal ideology, such as "efficiency", "growth", "free trade" and opts for a new economic rationale.
Thomas Gerlinger
Progress and frustration
Obama's health care reform
The American health care reform has attracted global political attention. Thomas Gerlinger, professor for medical sociology, examines the facts of the recently passed reform.
While the reform will benefit many of the formerly uninsured, other problems of the world's most expensive health care system remain unsolved.
Ethics of Education
Progressive education in question
Micha Brumlik
Progressive education as an international movement
Few other subjects have caused such a heated discussion within educational science as the concept of progressive education (Reformpädagogik) has. In the new issue of Blätter, educational reformer Hartmut von Hentig outlines ten constitutive elements of a progressive education. Micha Brumlik, professor of pedagogy and co-editor of Blätter, illuminates the international dimension of the reform movement.
Günter Morsch
History as weapon. Culture of remembrance in Europe and the duty of memorial places
The drive to create a common European culture of remembrance has caused various conflicts about what should be commemorated and how. Günter Morsch, head of the German memorial place Sachsenhausen (a former Nazi concentration camp), scrutinizes different approaches. In his view, memorial places face a double responsibility -- they should be self-critical and promote an independent examination of history.