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United States. Office of the US High Commissioner for Germany / A program to foster citizen participation in government and politics in Germany
(1951)
10. Institute of public affairs, pp. 25-27
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Page 25
(4) To secure recognition of the value of study in the social and political sciences as qualifications for- government and related positions. C. PROGRESS TO MAY, 1950 .In 1949 a number of visiting specialists from the U.S. undertook studies to determine practical ways and means of introducing and strengthening politi- cal science teaching. On the initiative of German leaders, a conference was held which brought to- gether the leading professors and university ad- ministrators in political science. In March, 1950, a special political science committee established by the Conference of University Rectors, recommended the general establishment of political science educa- tion in universities and the creation of a Political Science Association to be affiliated eventually with the International Political Science Association in Paris. Several German professors were invited to visit the U.S. to observe course content and teaching methods and arrangements were made with the U.S. universities to furnish a limited number of books and periodicals. A "Hochschule fuer Politik" has been established in Berlin and courses in this field have been ini- tiated in the Free University of Berlin. Plans were completed for the establishment of a "Hochschule fuer Politik" in Munich with courses to begin in June, 1950. Several chairs of political science and courses in the subject have been established in other universities. These include courses on political parties, comparative constitutional law, and the structure and operations of the federal government. D. PLANNED ACTION TO JULY 1951 (1) General A second political science convention is being organized for July, 1950, in which a number of American university professors will participate. It is hoped that this conference will develop specific plans for the further introduction of political science into German universities for new courses with new content, and for research. Arrangements for exchange between American and German universities will also be discussed. Further efforts will be made to open to German teachers and students the development of the past 20 years in foreign countries and to aid German universities in- establishing modern libraries. The exchange program, involving the visits of teachers and students to the U.S., is of unusual necessity in this program because adequate facilities for such work are not yet available in Germany. (2) Consultants Four U.S. professors of political science have been requested for the summer of 1950. They will participate in the planned conference and there- after will work with their German colleagues in various universities in the development of specif-. ic plans for teaching political science. Two other professors - who have been - invited to lecture in German universities will be available for part time assistance. (3) German Visits to U.S. and European Countries The opportunity will be afforded ten teachers of political science to spend a year in the U.S. to ob- serve American teaching and research methods and to familiarize themselves with recent material. Eight Germans will be invited to visit the United States for six months to study all phases of public management at the federal level in a democratic society. This group will be made up of key federal and Land administrators who are in a position to influence the development of governmental meth- ods and relationships in Germany. During 1950, 72 university graduates and gov- ernment employees will visit the U.S., with four months study in special courses in universities and one month of observation of practical governmental methods in governmental offices. This project does not involve study of political science as such, but it is calculated to afford educational background for democratic governmental administration and an insight into the theory and practice of government and politics in the U.S. A similar program is planned for 1951. (4) Pamphlets A verbatim account of the 1949 conference was published in German, together with a condensed English version which was distributed in England, the U.S., and, France. The proceedings of the July 1950 conference will be published. A pamphlet on the status of social and political science education in German universities, to serve as a reference guide, will be prepared and dis- tributed. (5) Land Offices Land Offices with universities or a "Hochschule fuer Politik" located in or near the capital city will follow the development of this program. (6) Kreis Offices Kreis Officers in whose Kreis a university is located will follow the development of the pro- gram. (7) Newspapers and Radio While the program is not one of continuous news value, it has been possible to interest feature edi- tors who specialize in governmental and educa- tional affairs, 12 of whom attended the 1949 con- ference. Their presence resulted in feature articles in their newspapers and in several technical jour- nals. It is expected to repeat this. (8) Films No film project is proposed. 10. INSTITUTE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS A. PROBLEM Improvement in German political and govern- mental organization and practices is hampered by the isolation of German leaders and administrators from ideas, techniques, and practices developed in the Western democracies during the past twenty years, by lack of facilities for research and the free exchange of information and experience within Germany itself, and by lack of contact between German leaders and administrators and the Ger- man public., B. OBJECTIVES To ecourage the establishment of a German in- stitutional center for (1) the exchange of domestic and international information and experience; 25
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