Pioneering action to establish new standards for acceptance and variety in history
In the heart of Europe, a new initiative called Historians for a Democratic Society (hist4dem) has emerged, aiming to promote and preserve democratic structures in German society. The group, composed of historians and historically working people, has been online for nearly three weeks and is gaining traction, with around 240 supporters signing the position paper so far.
The action week, taking place from May 5 to 9 in Cologne/Stuttgart, marks the beginning of this ambitious endeavour. Institutions across the country, including the University of Tübingen and the Theodor Heuss House foundation in Stuttgart, are involved in the action week.
The initiative's goals are threefold: to promote democratic awareness based on historical understanding, encourage critical reflection on Germany’s political past—especially struggles for social justice and democratic reform—and foster civic engagement grounded in historical knowledge.
Historians involved in hist4dem draw inspiration from historical figures like August Bebel, Eduard Bernstein, and Max Weber, who significantly contributed to democratic reform and social democracy in Germany. Bebel's lifelong advocacy for electoral reform and democratic rights against authoritarian reaction serves as an early example of such goals. Bernstein’s revision of Marxism toward a gradualist, democratic socialism highlights the importance of evolutionary rather than revolutionary approaches to social change.
Understanding lessons from Germany's social and political history can inform contemporary democratic practice and resist authoritarian tendencies. The historians’ role is crucial in preserving these democratic legacies and promoting informed public discourse.
The action week is intended to set a sign for democracy, solidarity, and diversity. On May 6 at the University of Tübingen, two journalists will report on the war in Ukraine, and a discussion on political participation will take place on May 7. The Theodor Heuss House foundation in Stuttgart offers a tour of the house on May 4 and a lecture on "The 'War' against the NS Memory" on May 8.
In the future, hist4dem could provide expertise to the public and mediate appropriate persons. The group also aims to change its sporadic representation in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg by advertising digitally and analogously.
Liberal democracy is under pressure worldwide, with forces rising in Europe that question liberal democracy and the open society. hist4dem aims to sensitize the network that history is not being scientifically manipulated and that democratic principles are essential for historical education.
The initiative will also be present at the Historian's Day in September. For those interested in learning more about hist4dem, the position paper is available for subscription.
[1] Bebel, August. Democracy and Socialism. 1878. [2] Bebel, August. Women and Socialism. 1879. [3] Weber, Max. The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism. 1905. [4] Bernstein, Eduard. Evolutionary Socialism. 1899. [5] Spengler, Oswald. The Decline of the West. 1918-1922.
- The following foray into education-and-self-development, personal-growth, and policy-and-legislation, initiated by Historians for a Democratic Society (hist4dem), revolves around fostering democratic awareness based on historical understanding.
- General-news segments on the war-and-conflicts in Ukraine and discussions on political participation are included in the hist4dem action week's agenda, aiming to resist authoritarian tendencies by understanding lessons from Germany's social and political history.
- In the wake of mounting pressure on liberal democracy worldwide, hist4dem aspires to sensitize people about the importance of historical education and the need to uphold democratic principles, especially in the face of forces questioning liberal democracy and the open society, evidenced by works such as August Bebel's Democracy and Socialism and Max Weber's The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism.
