Why do teenagers find SchülerVZ, flickr or YouTube so fantastic? What are they finding in the communities on the internet that doesn't exist in real life, and what exactly are they doing with it? The JFF- Institut für Medienpädagogik (Institute for Media Education) looks into these questions and learns from a 15 year-old "I think the future will just be one big Second Life."...
more
The end of democracy? Philosopher Peter Sloterdijk talks with Marius Meller about French revoltism, British phlegm and Europe's national hallucination chambers.
read more
A group of German writers have signed a public condemnation against what it sees as dangerously populist sentiments behind the new 'Linkspartei'.
read more
The Germany that makes the headlines is one of hedge-fund 'locusts' and burgeoning numbers of unemployed. Don't believe the hype: the upcoming German federal elections will be fought out in the middle. But unless the Germans stop expecting to be spoon fed by the state, and get proactive, little will be gained by a change of government. By Paul Nolte
read more
In response to the French 'no' to the European constitution, France's new Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin has proposed a new kind of union between France and Germany. Journalist and historian Gustav Seibt argues that this would be a disaster for Germany and insists that Europe be considered in a broader historical perspective.
read more
On May 29, France voted in a referendum on the European Constitution. For Andre Glucksmann, it was the victory of Euro-nihilism. German-Iranian writer Navid Kermani explains how it feels to be rejected by Europe. German intellectuals write an open letter to their French neighbours, warning of the disastrous consequences of the "non". Paul Virilio calls the referendum a suicidal absurdity. Jürgen Habermas argues that the Left is deluded in thinking the "non" will serve its interests. And Oliver Eberle emphasises the importance of a lively debate.
read more
The French no is standing guard on the frontiers of the old European Community. The referendum on the constitution became a retrospective referendum against the enlargement from fifteen to twenty-five member states. Formerly Euro-skeptics, the French who recklessly promoted the no on May 29 have become Euro-nihilists. By Andre Glucksmann
read more
Both France and the Netherlands have rejected the European Constitution. German-Iranian author Navid Kermani reflects on what this means to him, as someone who wanted to become - or thought he was - a European.
read more
So cunning is history: The cornerstones of the Berlin Republic – the departure from the social market economy, the rediscovery of war, the mistrust of the state for its citizens, the historicisation of the Holocaust – were laid by the West German 68ers. An attempt by a member of the old German Federal Republic to come to terms with the country he lives in. By Arno Widmann
read more
The practice of holding a referendum on a subject like the European constitution is suicidal. It is an electoral absurdity that puts in question the political intelligence not only of the French president, but also of his immediate entourage and communication advisers. By Paul Virilio
read more
The surprising defeat of the SPD in the state elections in North-Rhine Westphalia has set a process in motion that will probably result in new federal leadership in Germany. Writer and comedian Frank Goosen describes in an interview what his fellow Ruhrpotters think about this, if anything at all.
read more
An open letter to French voters from German intellectuals, artists and academics warns the French public that voting "No" to the EU constitution would mean betraying progress and abandoning the ideals of the Enlightenment.
read more
To the French naysayers: A Left which aims to tame and civilise capitalism with a "No" to the
European constitution would be deciding for the wrong side at the wrong
time. By Jürgen Habermas
read more
Turkish society flatly refuses to recognise the atrocities committed against the Armenians. This has catastrophic implications for Turks in Germany. By Zafer Senocak
read more
The "Cedar Revolution" in Lebanon spawns hopes of a democratic spring
in the Arabic world. How do the mass demonstrations of
Hizbollah followers relate to the awakening in Beirut? By Abbas Beydoun
read more
A wave of thinly disguised attempts at censorship are causing concern in Russian artistic circles. By Jens Mühling
read more
RSS
