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Teaching Biopolitics in Germany

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 May 2016

Heiner Flohr*
Affiliation:
Politikwissenschaft, Universität Düsseldorf Universitätsstrasse 1, 4000 Düsseldorf 1, F.R.G.
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Abstract

Due to the prevailing paradigms in the social sciences and humanities and due to some traditional reservations against biology in Germany, biopolitics is facing particular difficulties in German political science. At the University of Düsseldorf, the only place where biopolitics is taught in Germany, students take courses which deal explicitly with biopolitical topics or learn about biopolitics in seminars and lectures devoted to other aspects of political behavior. There are difficulties in teaching biopolitics; some will arise wherever biopolitics is taught, while some may be specific for Germany. These difficulties require special teching efforts in order to motivate the students; some experience in dealing with these problems has already been gained. As far as the desirable participation in research projects and the practical application of biopolitical knowledge in particular professions is concerned, there are some possibilities, but still too few. Besides working with students on biopolitical questions, there are useful opportunities of teaching biopolitics outside the university, especially in adult political education and in political consulting.

Type
International Aspects of Politics and the Life Sciences
Copyright
Copyright © Association for Politics and the Life Sciences 

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References

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