Political education is an important part of our society and makes a major contribution to our democracy. Our aim in the Department of Political Education is to work to strengthen democratic values and combat extremism. We are increasingly concerned about right-wing extremist developments in Germany, Europe and the rest of the world, which is why it is urgently necessary to scrutinize the current discourse and promote a deeper understanding of political issues and social challenges.

This year, we want to contribute to counteracting this right-wing extremist development. We want to promote students' political knowledge and critical political thinking, because we believe that a sound political education is essential in order to understand current events, political structures and social developments.

In a diverse and pluralistic society, the open exchange of opinions and ideas is of great importance and we would like to promote this with you in the coming year. This will be achieved by organizing discussion rounds, lectures and exhibitions. If you can think of any topics that you consider important or if you have any event requests, please send us an e-mail!

Research paper “Displaced Students: Intersectional Stories of Persecution of Student Victims of National Socialism at Christian Albrecht University in Kiel”

The publication “Displaced Students: Intersectional Histories of Persecution of Student Victims of National Socialism at Kiel University” is a student research project authored by Konstantin Braas and Fabian Zurstraßen and listed in the AStA publication catalogue. It documents the individual histories of students at Kiel University who, under National Socialism, were persecuted on the basis of racial, political, or other discriminatory criteria and expelled from the academic community. The AStA’s Department for Political Education is dedicated to strengthening democratic values and critically engaging with discrimination in both past and present. Examining the university’s history during the National Socialist period—particularly from the perspectives of displaced students—is a central component of this political education. It raises awareness of how authoritarian ideologies can threaten the lives and freedoms of students and scholars and highlights that universities are by no means detached from societal developments, but often stand at their very center. The project thus aims to contribute to a culture of remembrance at Kiel University and to promote awareness of structural discrimination. For Kiel University and its organized student body, critically addressing the institution’s National Socialist past should be regarded as part of its historical responsibility, contributing to the examination of institutional continuities and the strengthening of academic values.

Click here to download: “Displaced Students: Intersectional Stories of Persecution of Student Victims of National Socialism at Christian Albrecht University in Kiel”