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| Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung | |
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| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 25 November 1952 (73 years ago) (1952-11-25) |
| Jurisdiction | Government of Germany |
| Headquarters | Bonn,Germany |
| Employees | 220[2] |
| Annual budget | €64.710 million (2019)[1] |
| Agency executive |
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| Website | www.bpb.de |
TheFederal Agency for Civic Education (FACE,German:Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung (bpb)) is a German federalgovernment agency responsible for promotingcivic education. It is subordinated to theFederal Ministry of the Interior.Thomas Krüger has served as president of the agency since 2000. The modern agency was established inWest Germany in 1952 by theAdenauer government to counteractcommunism during theCold War, but it has its roots in earlier government agencies dating back to theFirst World War.
In 1997 the objectives for bpb were specified, and these were officially defined in 2001. Its task is now to promote understanding of political issues, strengthen awareness for democracy and willingness to participate in political processes amongst the citizen.[3]
Furthermore, a committee of 22 members of theBundestag is responsible for monitoring the effectiveness and political neutrality of the bpb.
Bpb publishesInformationen zur politischen Bildung (a magazine published quarterly) andAus Politik und Zeitgeschichte (APuZ), a weekly topical journal of essays and academic articles. German, Arabic, Turkish and Russian versions of theGrundgesetz can be ordered for free by anyone living in Germany. Furthermore, it offers extensive material, e.g. books, journals and information material for schools on contemporary topics in politics, history, sociology and economy.
A number of congresses, symposia and excursions are organised by bpb either directly for citizens or for experts on selected topics. Furthermore, bpb co-operates with a number of political foundations, associations and organisations committed to civic education.
The Agency has its background in thepropaganda war ofWorld War I. In October 1914 theZentrale für Auslandsdienst (Agency for Foreign Service) was established for the purpose of propaganda conducted outside Germany. In 1918 it was complemented by theZentralstelle für Heimatdienst (Agency for Homeland Service) which was formed for the purpose of domestic propaganda; in order to strengthen the public resilience during the war. In theWeimar Republic it was renamed as theReichszentrale für Heimatsdienst (Reich Agency for Homeland Service).
Heimatdienst, which literally means homeland service, may also be translated as "domestic propaganda" or "political explanation/education in the homeland".
Following the Nazi ascent to power in Germany the agency was dissolved on 16 March 1933. The facilities and staff of the agency were incorporated into the newMinistry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda headed byJoseph Goebbels and responsible for enforcing Nazi doctrine on the people and controlling public opinion.
The Agency was re-established on November 25, 1952 as theBundeszentrale für Heimatdienst (Federal Agency for Homeland Service), and in 1963 it was renamed as theBundeszentrale für politische Bildung (Federal Agency for Civic Education). It can also be translated as "Federal Agency for Political Education", as in the German language "civic education" normally translates as "Bürgerschaftliche Erziehung", of which "Politische Bildung" represents just a sub-category.
The initial primary focus of the activities of the re-established agency during the 1950s was to counteractCommunism in West Germany.
The agency runs avoting advice application websiteWahl-O-Mat, which compares the user's political position with the platforms of the parties and shows all parties ranked for closeness to the user's position.[4]
In addition to the federal agency, 15 of Germany's 16states each have their own state agency for civic education. These agencies are independent from the federal agency, and subordinated to the state governments, usually to the state ministry of the interior. The agencies are:
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