|
View the h-german Discussion Logs by month
View the Prior Message in h-german's December 1996 logs by: [date] [author] [thread] View the Next Message in h-german's December 1996 logs by: [date] [author] [thread] Visit the h-german home page.
Submitted by: Peter Becker
becker@TRIBECA.IOS.COM
The article in the Sueddeutsche Zeitung that was provided to H-German by
L. Reith really upsets me. From my perspective, it finally proves the
complete lack of interest of the Max-Planck-Gesellschaft in Historical
Research that was already assumed by our American colleagues in their
evaluation of president Markl's moves. Markl's policy shows a remarkable
indifference and hostility towards historical research and an amount of
ignorance towards international networks in the humanities that is
frightening for the president of the Max-Planck-Society.
In my point of view, the most upsetting information that was provided by
the article in the Sueddeutsche Zeitung was the annual rise in the
Max-Planck-budget by 5%. This does not at all justify the closing of
institutes. Furthermore, the 'geopolitical' mission of the
Max-Planck-society, shifting jobs and money from the West to the East,
seems to produce different outcomes - depending on the discipline
involved. The institutes of biology and ethology are continued with only
one section. A similar solution exists for the institute of 'Aeronomie'.
The only institute to be shut down completely remains the
Max-Planck-Institut fuer Geschichte in Goettingen. This is a real slap in
the face, not only for the members of the institute in Goettingen but also
for the large number of supporters from all around the world who
spontaneously joined forces with the institute in Goettingen.
This is not to say that other institutes of the Max-Planck-Society have
not the right to exist or that new institutes should not be built in the
East. With this I only want to express my concerns about the fact that the
Max-Planck-Society was able to compromise in some cases and in the case of
the Goettinger institute it was not. Downsizing an institute is bad enough
and not at all desirable. It is still much more desirable than the
complete shutdown that is much more irreversible even in the long run.
The final decision will be taken, however, only in March. That means we
have some time left to express our concerns and to continue the lobbying
against the shutdown of the institute. As a coordinated effort might be
more successful, we could try to use the H-German network to combine our
forces. Furthermore, we should also try to coordinate our activities with
the ones taken by the members of the institute in Goettingen. If other
members of H-German are also in favor of collaborative efforts, I would be
very much willing to help in coordinating them.
Peter Becker
Research Fellow
German Historical Institute
1607 New Hampshire Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20009
Tel.: (202) 387.3355
Fax: (202) 483.3430
 Humanities & Social Sciences Online 
|