60 Years Political Science at Kiel University

The ceremony of the 60th anniversary of Political
Science at Kiel University took place on 8th June in the Council
chamber of the Town hall of Kiel. After the welcoming address by Professor Tine
Stein and Professor Joachim Krause, the Lord Mayor of Kiel, Torsten Albig, congratulated
the Department of Political Science, Kiel University, on its anniversary. Albig
pointed to the very low turn-out in local elections, appealing to the Political
Sciences to find answers to urgent problems of our times. The first ceremonial
address was held by the Chairman of the German Association for Political
Science (Deutsche Vereinigung für Politikwissenschaft), Professor Hubertus
Buchstein, who spoke about the establishment and development of Political
Science in Germany that had been characterized by highs and lows.
Impressions from the ceremony on 8th June

Buchstein
drew attention to the fact that Kiel was one of the very first locations in the
Federal Republic of Germany to institutionalize the subject of Political
Science. Then, Kiel´s former Lord Mayor, Norbert Gansel, spoke about his
personal relationship towards the Political Sciences in Kiel and quoted from an
exchange of letters between Andreas Gayk and Michael Freund about the latter´s
appointment to the Chair for “Science and History of Politics” (“Wissenschaft
und Geschichte der Politik”) in 1951.

“History of
Political Science in Kiel” (“Geschichte der Kieler Politikwissenschaft”). Subsequently, after the speeches, with a glass of wine
and a snack, there was the possibility to look at the posters of a student
research project or to engage in discussions about the exciting and eventful
history of the Department of Political Science at Kiel University.
Impressions from the Scientific on 9th June
Christian Patz spoke about Wilhelm Hasbach, a
political scientist of the early 20th century. In the light of
Hasbach´s rather critical stance towards parliamentary democracy, he raised the
provocative question of whether one needs to be a democrat in order to be a
political scientist. The comprehensive reception of the title “Gemeinschaft und
Gesellschaft” by Ferdinand Tönnies, written in the 1920s at the Kiel Institute
of World Economy and Maritime Transport, was dealt with by Alexander Wierzock
as a precursor to Political Science at Kiel University. In her presentation,
Birte Meinschien took a closer look at the appointment of Michael Freund to
Kiel and at the establishment of the chair for “Science and History of
Politics” (“Wissenschaft und Geschichte der Politik”).

All of the presentations were commented by Professor
Hubertus Buchstein (Greifswald University) and Privatdozent Cord Arendes
(Heidelberg University). Contributions by contemporary witnesses complemented
the students´ presentations. The second panel dealt with the tension between
Political Science and political practice and was attended by the politicians
Dr. Hans-Peter Bartels (Member of the Bundestag) and Dr. Axel Bernstein (Member
of the Landtag). The Department of Political Science was represented by
Professor Joachim Krause and Professor Christian Martin, Professor Tine Stein
was responsible for the moderation.

During this panel discussion it became clear that
there is a whole range of challenges to Political Science in theory and
practice. In this respect, Bernstein and Bartels called upon the Political
Sciences to present definite and relevant research results for the problems in
state and society. Both pointed to positive experiences concerning
“Think-Tanks” and other institutions in which Science and Politics work
together and they called upon students to get involved in political party
organizations. Professor Martin added, on a rather critical note, that the
practical orientation of Political Science must not happen at the expense of basic
research.

On the contrary, the university should provide a space that allows
research that is free of any interests. Professor Krause presented an
alternative, more “pragmatic” understanding of Political Science that combines
theory and practice, for example, in institutions of policy consultancy. This
refreshingly open debate was enriched by numerous contributions of the guests.
Professor Stein concluded the symposium announcing that in the future, further
events will be held in order to enable a systematic exchange between Political
Science and political practice.