By Annalena Groppe, 27. September 2023 - Understandings of peace and corresponding approaches to peace education are shaped by their context's conflicts and violence (Salomon 2002). Moving between places allows one to see specifics more clearly. As my dissertation project explores peace education in polarizing conflicts over democracy in Germany, this text reflects on learning and facilitation in a peace studies department in Virginia, USA, the societal context from which the concept of polarization originates. Showing the didactical relevance of those conflicts, I explore the tension and complementarity between elicitve/process- and actor-oriented, critical/ self-reflective, and trauma-sensitive approaches to Peace Education.

Von Annalena Groppe, 11. November 2022 - Am 28. Mai fand in Neustadt an der Weinstraße ein Demokratiefest zur Erinnerung an das Hambacher Fest 1832 statt. Es ist einerseits Vorbereitung auf die 200 Jahr Feier, die in zehn Jahren anstehen. Andererseits ist es Teil einer Reihe von Maßnahmen, um Vereinnahmungen der regionalen Historie im Sinne demokratiefeindlicher Positionen zu begegnen.