Politische Studien

[Inhalt und Impressum]: Table of contents and editorial information for the 1981 edition of Politische Studien (Volume 32). It lists articles on American politics, Eric Voegelin, Habermas, Swiss Catholicism, Scandinavia, and Eurocommunism, alongside the scientific advisory board and publishing details. [Kommentar zum Zeitgeschehen: Mut zur Zukunft?]: Rolf Geyer critiques the 1980 government declaration of the Schmidt administration, arguing it lacks a clear vision for the future ('Mut zur Zukunft'). He discusses the worsening economic situation in West Germany, including rising unemployment and national debt, while criticizing the continued reliance on Keynesian deficit spending and the demands of public service unions. [Europa: Politische und wirtschaftliche Lageberichte]: A survey of the political landscape in Europe at the start of 1981. It covers the upcoming French elections, Margaret Thatcher's monetarist policies in the UK, the leadership struggle in the British Labour Party between Michael Foot and Denis Healey, and the political instability in Italy, Spain, Portugal, and Turkey. [Osteuropa: Die Krise in Polen und sowjetische Interessen]: Analysis of the volatile situation in Poland regarding the Solidarity movement. The author argues that the Soviet Union will likely intervene if the Polish Communist Party loses control, prioritizing the preservation of the communist order over Western detente, while noting the West's limited options for response. [Asien, Afrika und die USA: Globale Krisenherde]: A global overview of conflicts in late 1980, including the Iran-Iraq war, the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan, and various civil wars in Africa (Ethiopia, Angola, Zimbabwe). It concludes with an assessment of the incoming Reagan administration, predicting a shift in priorities but a continuation of the general political line toward allies and rivals. [Fragen zur Zeit: Interview mit Walther Leisler Kiep]: An interview with CDU politician Walther Leisler Kiep regarding the future of US-European relations under President Reagan. Kiep discusses the need for a new balance of power, increased European military contributions to NATO, the failure of 'orthodox' detente, and the growing importance of North-South relations and energy security. [Editorial: Eric Voegelin zum 80. Geburtstag]: Johannes Hampel honors philosopher Eric Voegelin on his 80th birthday. The editorial summarizes Voegelin's intellectual journey, his critique of modern 'gnostic' mass movements (Marxism, Nazism), and his magnum opus 'Order and History', emphasizing his role in restoring political science as a search for truth and order. [Die Symbolisierung der Ordnung]: A foundational text by Eric Voegelin exploring how human societies symbolize order. Voegelin discusses the 'community of being' (God, man, world, society) and the shift from compact 'cosmological' symbols to differentiated 'macroanthropic' symbols. He argues that the discovery of transcendent divine order creates a 'leap in being' that redefines human existence and historical consciousness. [Verlagsanzeigen: CDU-Programmatik und Demokratischer Sozialismus]: Advertisements for two academic books published by Olzog: one on the programmatic foundations of the CDU (edited by Schönbohm and Braun) and another on the spiritual foundations of Democratic Socialism (edited by Thomas Meyer), listing various contributors and chapter titles. [Die argumentative Auflösung des Interesses: Eine kritische Würdigung des Habermas'schen Kommunikationsmodells]: Robert Hettlage begins a critical evaluation of Jürgen Habermas's theory of communicative competence. He situates Habermas's work within the broader context of social evolution and science theory, aiming to analyze the sociological and ethical implications of the Habermasian model of society. [Technical Rationality versus Social Action]: Habermas critiques Marcuse's view on technical rationality by introducing a dual action concept: instrumental action (work) directed at objects and communicative action (interaction) between persons. He argues against reducing human reality to production alone, emphasizing that normative structures and socialization processes have independent weight in societal formation. [Communication Distortions and the 'Cultural Lag' in Modern Society]: This section explores the imbalance between 'work' and 'interaction' in industrial cultures, where science and technology dominate world interpretation. Habermas identifies this as a 'cultural lag' and a form of ideology that masks power, suggesting that only an 'emancipatory interest' found in critical social sciences and psychoanalysis can lead to self-reflection and the uncovering of suppressed motives. [The Theory of Communicative Competence and Universal Pragmatics]: Habermas outlines the acquisition of communicative competence through the mastery of linguistic rules, aiming for a 'universal pragmatics'. He distinguishes between the level of interaction (naive information exchange) and discourse (the meta-communicative level where validity claims are problematized and redeemed through argument). [The Ideal Speech Situation and Domination-Free Discourse]: Habermas introduces the 'ideal speech situation' as a constitutive condition of speech that allows for the distinction between true and false consensus. A true consensus is only possible in a 'domination-free discourse' where all participants have equal chances to present arguments, leading to a 'per se true consensus' and a humane form of life based on truth, freedom, and justice. [Social Programmatics: Discursive Learning and Norm Justification]: The text discusses how discursive learning serves as an instrument for an ideal life form, transforming subjective motives into universal norms. It addresses the 'rehabilitation of practical philosophy', arguing that social norms can be justified through potential agreement in an anticipated ideal discourse rather than ontological foundations. [Critique of the Theory: Idealism vs. Reality]: This section presents several critiques of Habermas's theory, including the difficulty of distinguishing between the 'better argument' and mere persuasion, the problem of infinite regress in justifying discourse conditions, and the lack of an ontological basis for norms. It also challenges the applicability of a small-group harmony model to complex, fragmented societies and highlights the risk of new 'discourse elites' emerging. [Würdigung der Habermas'schen Theorie der Kommunikativen Kompetenz]: This section provides a critical evaluation of Habermas's theory of communicative competence. While praising its depth and the importance of communication for social learning, the author argues that the model of power-free discourse remains a 'counterfactual' sketch rather than an applicable social theory. It concludes by categorizing Habermas's vision as a non-concretizable 'outopos' (utopia) and includes a cautionary quote from Max Horkheimer regarding the potential loss of individual freedom in rational social structures. [Sozialwissenschaftliche Wirkungsforschung — Vermittlung und Realität]: Georg Betz examines the problems of communicating social science research results, specifically television impact studies, to the public and political decision-makers. He argues that empirical data is often selectively interpreted or misrepresented to downplay the harmful effects of TV violence. The text discusses methodological limitations like the inability to prove linear causality, the deceptive nature of 'null findings', and how academic caution or institutional interests can lead to the public misperception that television is harmless, despite evidence of its role in fostering anxiety and aggressive behavior. [Schweizer Katholizismus von 1945 bis zur Gegenwart: Abschied vom „katholischen Milieu“]: Urs Altermatt analyzes the decline of the traditional 'Catholic milieu' in Switzerland since 1945. He describes how economic prosperity, social mobility, and mass media led to the erosion of the closed Catholic sub-society. The text details the political rise of Catholics from a discriminated minority to equal government partners (the 'Magic Formula' of 1959) and the subsequent transformation of the Catholic party into the inter-confessional CVP. This shift represents a transition from a closed ideological block to a pluralistic participation in the secular state, moving from association-based Catholicism to a council-based structure. [Skandinavien: Probleme und Tendenzen - Skandinavien nach 1949]: This section explores the geopolitical alignment of Scandinavian countries following the 1949 turning point. It contrasts the NATO membership of Norway, Denmark, and Island with the continued neutrality of Sweden and the restricted 'Finlandization' of Finland under Soviet influence. The authors discuss the failure of a unified Scandinavian defense union due to diverging interests and the role of the US as a guarantor against both the USSR and larger European powers. It highlights Uho Kekkonen's active neutrality policy and the rejection of a nuclear-free zone by NATO-aligned Nordic states. [Europäische und skandinavische Integration]: This section analyzes the history of Scandinavian integration within the broader European context after 1945. It details the formation of the Nordic Council, the failed Nordek economic union project, and the diverging paths of Denmark (joining the EEC) and Norway (rejecting EEC membership via referendum). It also discusses the specific economic interests of Iceland, Greenland, and the Faroe Islands, particularly regarding fishing rights and sovereignty. [Außenpolitik: Finnlandisierung und die Kabeljaukriege]: The text examines the foreign policies of Finland and Iceland during the 1970s. It critiques the concept of 'Finlandization' as a limitation on sovereignty while acknowledging Finland's successful democratic preservation despite Soviet proximity. It also details Iceland's 'Cod Wars' with Great Britain over fishing zones and its strategic use of its NATO position to secure national economic interests. [Wirtschaftspolitik: Der Aufstieg Norwegens als Ölmacht]: This segment discusses the shift in economic power within Scandinavia due to Norway's oil discoveries. It contrasts Norway's rising wealth and strategic importance with Sweden's economic stagnation and the high inflation/debt crises in Denmark and Iceland. It also covers Norway's national control over oil production and its role in the International Energy Agency (IEA). [Sicherheitspolitik und Strategische Bedeutung der Polarregion]: An analysis of Scandinavian security policy, focusing on Norway's strategic position near the Soviet Northern Fleet on the Kola Peninsula. It discusses Norway's self-imposed restrictions on foreign troops and nuclear weapons, Sweden's challenges in maintaining credible neutrality amid budget cuts, and the growing nationalist movements in Greenland that threaten Western strategic interests. [Anhang: Politische Theologie und Verlagswerbung]: A transitional section containing a quote by Franz Josef Strauß and an advertisement/listing for books in the 'Forum Politische Theologie' series, including works by Johann Baptist Metz and Gustavo Gutiérrez on liberation theology and the future of Christianity. [Die KP Japans und der Eurokommunismus: Einleitung und Distanzierung]: This essay by Tadasi Takahashi explores the relationship between the Communist Party of Japan (CPJ) and European Eurocommunism. It highlights the CPJ's efforts to establish an independent line from the Soviet Union (KPdSU) and China, its rejection of 'foreign interference', and the internal debates regarding its classification as a 'Euro-Japanese' communist movement. [Die KPJ im Spannungsfeld Moskau-Peking und die territoriale Frage]: The text describes how the CPJ navigated the Sino-Soviet conflict, leading to breaks with both Moscow and Beijing. A key factor in its independent stance is the 'Northern Territories' issue (Kuril Islands), where the CPJ maintains a nationalist position demanding return of the islands from the USSR to secure domestic voter support. [Wende zur parlamentarischen Demokratie und Reformkritik]: This final segment of the chunk analyzes the CPJ's transition toward accepting parliamentary democracy and its rebranding of 'Marxism-Leninism' as 'Scientific Socialism'. It critiques whether these changes are tactical or fundamental, examining the party's stance on the 'dictatorship of the proletariat', democratic centralism, and its unique 'Two-Revolution Theory' regarding American imperialism and Japanese monopoly capital. [Normalisierungstendenzen gegenüber Moskau und Peking]: This section examines the Japan Communist Party's (JCP) complex efforts to normalize relations with Moscow and Beijing following its Eurocommunist shift. It details the 1979 agreement with the CPSU, the persistent friction over the Northern Territories (Kuril Islands) dispute which remained unaddressed in official communiqués, and the failed attempt to reconcile with the Chinese Communist Party due to Deng Xiaoping's dismissive stance. [Keine Volksfrontstrategie in Sicht]: Analysis of the JCP's domestic political isolation in Japan during the early 1980s. The text describes the breakdown of cooperation between the JCP and the Socialist Party of Japan (SPJ), the formation of centrist-right alliances excluding the communists, and the JCP's subsequent electoral losses. It concludes with a theoretical critique of Eurocommunism, arguing that the persistent 'avant-garde' claim and democratic centralism inherently threaten Western democracy. [Stichwort: Konservatismus]: A comprehensive conceptual history and definition of conservatism. It distinguishes between psychological 'traditionalism' and historical 'conservatism' as a reaction to the Enlightenment and the French Revolution. The essay explores various schools of thought, including the Christian-natural law tradition, the positional ideology theory by Huntington, and the 'liberal conservatism' of Edmund Burke, emphasizing the balance between preservation and necessary change. [Bericht: Der XV. Kongreß des Internationalen Historikerkomitees (CISH) in Bukarest]: A report on the 15th International Congress of Historical Sciences in Bucharest (1980). It highlights the tensions between Western and Eastern Bloc historians, particularly regarding the politicization of history teaching and the interpretation of federalism. Key incidents include Soviet attacks on West German history pedagogy and a heated confrontation following Alexander Osaczuk-Korab's critique of Soviet centralism and the secret protocols of the Hitler-Stalin Pact. [Neuerscheinung: Der Nationalsozialismus (Gerhard Grimm)]: A book review of Gerhard Grimm's work on National Socialism, which combines historical narrative with primary source documents to explain the ideological foundations and practical implementation of the Nazi regime for a post-war generation. [Menschenrechte: Erklärung der Charta 77 zur religiösen Freiheit]: A 12-point appeal by the Czechoslovak dissident group Charta 77 regarding religious freedom, addressed to the Helsinki Accords follow-up conference in Madrid. It demands the separation of state and church, the right to religious education, and the cessation of anti-religious propaganda. [Schicksale hinter Zuchthausmauern der DDR]: Eyewitness accounts from former prisoners in East German (GDR) penitentiaries, specifically the Hoheneck women's prison and Brandenburg. The reports describe overcrowding, psychological pressure, and the use of 'tiger cages' (solitary confinement cells) for political prisoners and those attempting to flee the country. [Personalien: Czeslaw Milosz und Adolfo M. Pérez Esquivel]: Biographical profiles of two 1980 Nobel laureates: Czeslaw Milosz (Literature) and Adolfo Pérez Esquivel (Peace). It discusses Milosz's role as an independent moralist and his 'hermetic' Polish poetry, and Esquivel's non-violent struggle for justice in Argentina under the military dictatorship. [Notizen: Wahlergebnisse und Sowjetische Strategie]: A collection of short reports on international election results from late 1980 (Portugal, Australia, and the US victory of Ronald Reagan) and a geopolitical analysis of Soviet strategy. The latter argues that the USSR seeks to neutralize Western Europe through strategic military superiority and psychological warfare against NATO's rearmament plans. [70 Flüchtlinge wurden an der Mordmauer erschossen]: A report on the fatalities and security measures at the Berlin Wall between 1961 and 1980, detailing the technical perfection of the border installations and the number of arrests. [Rentenanstieg-brutto oder netto?]: An analysis of German pension adjustments between 1971 and 1980, comparing the effects of coupling pension increases to gross versus net wage developments. [Die Zukunft auf dem Arbeitsmarkt: Prognose 1978 bis 1990]: A labor market forecast for West Germany up to 1990, predicting job losses in construction and trade due to automation, balanced by growth in the service and technology sectors. [Kurt Waldheim: Bekenntnis zu Zielen und Grundsätzen der UNO]: An excerpt from UN Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim's 1980 message emphasizing the need for a stable international economic order and global cooperation to ensure human survival. [Griechenland seit 31. 12. 1980 zehntes EG-Mitglied]: A brief report on Greece's accession to the European Community (EC) as its tenth member, focusing on the five-year transition period for agricultural market integration. [Buchbesprechungen: Bilanz der Kriegsgeneration (Erich Schwinge)]: A review of Erich Schwinge's book defending the wartime generation against collective guilt. It discusses the predictability of Nazi atrocities, the limits of resistance in totalitarian states, and the impact of the Allied demand for unconditional surrender. [Buchbesprechungen: Der Angriff (Hans Graf Huyn) & Nomenklatura (M. Voslensky)]: Reviews of two books on Soviet power: Hans Graf Huyn's analysis of Moscow's global expansion strategy and Michael Voslensky's seminal work on the 'Nomenklatura' as the ruling class of the USSR. [Buchbesprechungen: Innen- und Außenpolitik (Walther Hofer Festschrift)]: A review of a Festschrift dedicated to Walther Hofer, exploring the interdependence of domestic and foreign policy with contributions from various international scholars and politicians. [Buchbesprechungen: Keine Kameraden (Christian Streit)]: A critical review of Christian Streit's study on the treatment of Soviet prisoners of war by the Wehrmacht, questioning the author's statistical methods regarding deaths versus releases and defections. [Buchbesprechungen: Sozialismus und Nation (Klaus Motschmann)]: A detailed review of Motschmann's work on the socialist concept of the nation. It highlights the instrumental use of self-determination by Lenin and the ruthless attitude of Marx and Engels toward Slavic nations. [Redaktionelle Hinweise und Autorenverzeichnis]: Editorial notes for the upcoming issue (No. 256) and biographical information for the current issue's contributors, including prominent figures like Eric Voegelin and Hans Maier. [Politisch-Pädagogisches Handwörterbuch]: A comprehensive list of entries and contributors for the 'Politisch-Pädagogisches Handwörterbuch' published by the Hanns-Seidel-Stiftung, covering key political and social concepts.