31 December 2015 No 32/33 ISSN 1664-7963

Current Concerns PO Box CH-8044 Zurich Current Concerns Switzerland The international journal for independent thought, ethical standards, moral responsibility, Phone: +41 44 350 65 50 Fax: +41 44 350 65 51 and for the promotion and respect of public international law, human rights and humanitarian law

E-Mail: [email protected] Website: www.currentconcerns.ch English Edition of Zeit-Fragen

A view on Editorial the commemorative year 2015 For our country a year of commemo- by Dr phil. René Roca, Institute of Research on Direct Democracy rials comes to an end, in which the historical experiences of the events of For Switzerland, 2015 1315, 1415, 1515 and 1815 have been was a markedly dense far too little reflected regarding their Year of Commemora- significance for the political present. tion. The Swiss popu- Instead, various contemporary his- lation was called upon torians questioned the events, dimin- to remember important ished their relevance or completely historical dates – events negated them. This (de-)constructiv- nota bene – which were ism of today‘s historiography, as René central for the forma- Roca characterises it aptly in his view tion of state and sover- of the commemorative year, leaves be- eignty of our country. hind especially the following: a mental Historical events of the vacuum in the dispute over the ques- home country, whether tion of imperial, from top to bottom they were crowned with organised versus self-determined lib- successes or defeats, eral – sovereign – forms of human co- should always be an existence. Precisely here lies the value occasion for reflection of closer examining our country’s his- and contemplation. We “Tagsatzung” in Baden in the year Jahr 1531. tory as René Roca clearly points out: look at past events with (picture wikipedia) a history in which despite all difficul- a view from our present, ties not the dictate from above, not a we weigh them and draw our conclusions ones. Lately de-constructivism is likely monarchist rule has been the central from them. Oskar Vasella, Swiss histori- concealed with a new label, continually agent of development, but which orig- an with a Catholic background, an almost stressing the “transnational aspect”. How- inated in the cooperative principle of forgotten historian, wrote about “histori- ever, there is no new method or theory be- self-organisation and collectively se- cal understanding”: “The picture of his- hind this, but well-known facts are sim- curing the existence, and in which the tory arises only in the question about ply prepared anew. The positive context to will to preserve self-determination al- certain contexts and their essence is de- the nation must be wiped out, our country ways remained decisive. And this was termined by the value we award them”1 must be considered “beyond” the national, only possible when equipped with speak “transnational” just like the Europe- the will for common defense against In this sense, our view of history is com- an Union constantly aspires and preaches. claims of third parties the self-deter- pleted, enriched, and our human exist- National borders must finally eradicated; mination of the confederates was re- ence is also emotionally linked to our an- the nation state abolished. A “post nation- spected – an idea that today is just as cestors. This process of understanding, a al”, or even a “post democratic” thinking crucial as it used to be in all the con- weighing and by all means also critical should lead to a “Europe of regions”. flicts of the Confederates through the appropriation of our national history is One of these historians, the recently re- centuries as the contribution of Pro- central to our identity as Swiss citizens. tired Jakob Tanner, is an example for taking fessor Hans Köchler on the dialogue of Thus we create the necessary identity as this path: Shortly before he left the Univer- civilisations shows. Respect for beliefs citizens and can self-confidently handle sity of Zurich he managed to abolish Swiss and ways of life of other civilisations the problems presented to us in our world history as an area of studies, which in 2005 and cultures is on a larger scale to the today in a philanthropic sense. was already downgraded to a minor sub- same extend a requirement of peace- Nowadays, most historians teaching ject. It is interesting how the leftist Tanner ful coexistence on our planet as mutu- and doing research at Swiss Universi- commented on the abolition: “The Bologna al respect for the eight Cantons of the ties have quite a different opinion. When reform and the competition between Uni- Confederacy. it comes to Swiss history, the approach versities are forcing us […] to simplify the Seen in this way, the historical of de-constructivism spooks about. The study programmes and to establishing pro- (de-)constructivism intellectually guild of historians make their appear- fessional profiles.”2 Smart reasoning which supports a form of imperialist think- ance and want to destroy “the prevail- lastly boils down to a neo-liberal EU re- ing that has been dominating the atti- ing views of history” and construct new form, used by Tanner straight away to dis- tude of Western policy in many areas pose of research and teaching of Swiss his- of our world. Even if the arrogance The editors and the cooperative tory. But it is not only meant to be about is rhetorically covered up and tries Zeit-Fragen/Current Concerns wish all destruction, but also to set up a “counter to hide when speaking of democracy readers a Happy New Year. continued on page 2 continued on page 2 No 32/33 31 December 2015 Current Concerns Page 2

”A view on the commemorative …” selves, and their own, and better preserve ”Editorial” continued from page 1 them in proper condition, have promised continued from page 1 in good faith to assist each other with aid, image”. Almost at the same time Tanner with every counsel and every favour, with and human rights. An example of such announced his latest big act, a “history of person and goods, within the valley and policies is the history of the Congo Switzerland in the 20th century”. Therefore without, with might and main, against one which in turn is an example of the his- future students should not be able to study and all, who may inflict upon any one of tory and situation of a whole continent Swiss history any longer and most certainly them any violence, molestation or injury, that is nowadays more brutally bled they should not do any research on the his- or may plot any evil against their persons to death and exploited than ever serv- tory of Switzerland, because Tanner’s his- or goods.”3 ing the interests of Western powers. torical work is available now and that is, On these foundations the “Morgarten- The fact that African rulers – mostly according to the emeritus, not a mere “na- brief” reaffirmed in 1315 the principle of educated in the West and always sup- tional ‘container history’ seen from a do- cooperative in contrast to the principle of ported by the West – can be employed mestic perspective”. rule: “We have also vowed, decreed and as henchmen does not discharge the Beyond postmodern approaches the ordained in common council and by unan- Western powers in any way from their commemorative year 2015 shall serve imous consent, that we will accept or re- responsibilities, on the contrary. below to better understand today’s high- ceive no judge in the aforesaid valleys It would be about time to reflect on ly praised “model Switzerland”, by at- who shall have obtained his office for any the simple but fundamental message tempting to link the historical events and price …”4 They did not renounce all obli- of our history: people do not want to to show its contexts. The four historical gations of obedience but important was the be dominated and ruled by arrogant events of 1315, 1415, 1515 and 1815 are fact that all the three valleys, namely Uri, elites – this contradicts human nature, important “elements” for today’s Switzer- Schwyz und Unterwalden were already as freedom is the foundation of human land and have deeply shaped the view of in possession of letters of freedom by dignity. The realisation of the „demo- history of the confederates. the German king for some time and they cratic world revolution“ (Martin Kri- wanted to still maintain this imperial im- ele) may be still far away for many. 1315: Battle of Morgarten – mediacy after the battle. The later Confed- However, Kriele’s idea of the aware- “We will accept or receive no judge in eracy was not actually “founded” in 1315 ness of the fundamental equality for the aforesaid valleys” but a further sovereign and autonomous all the people is gradually breaking At this point the actual battle itself is not act from the grass roots was established ground. It cannot reasonably be disput- the focus of attention once more, it is rather and the alliance was strengthened on the ed. This is also proven by the human a report on its implications. On 9 Decem- basis of Christianity. To Roger Sablonier rights rhetoric that covers up their ber 1315, only some three and a half weeks the “Morgartenbrief” is “not really suspect accompanying propaganda for any after the Battle of Morgarten, the three of fabrication” and “clearly originated in claims of power or even the most bru- valleys Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden re- a close context to the prevailing political tal wars. Power politics and war are newed their alliance of 1291 in Brunnen. circumstances (meaning among others the always accompanied by a restriction The endorsement and amendment has to be Battle of Morgarten)”.5 The reaffirmed al- of freedom also in the war-mongering seen in the light of the new situation after liance was, according to Sablonier, among countries. This again is another histor- the Battle of Morgarten which is further others a “safeguard after Morgarten”6. In ical experience and logic of power. proof that the battle has taken place. The the “Morgartenbrief” the partners of the But we humans can act differently: new letter of alliance, also called “Mor- alliance of central Switzerland call them- we can learn the lessons from our his- gartenbrief”, was edited for the first time selves “eitgenozen”7, confederates, for the tory, we can realise that not striving ever in German, a remarkable, sovereign first time. Thus the people from central for power and competition, but coop- act. Language as an associational element Switzerland make their appearance with eration, a sense of togetherness and remained important for our later political an own identity acting as confederates of caring for one another creates values, system but without barricading the path to the valleys solidly united. Sabloniers‘ later allows for developments and often the current constitutionally guaranteed four theses of a “founder era without confeder- finds new solutions to problems that languages of Switzerland. ates”8 thus appears fairly (de) constructed. previously seemed hardly solvable. In a timeless sense the alliance of 1291 Quite to the opposite; with the “Morgar- already formulates an ethic politics cannot tenbrief” the confederates rather present- Erika Vögeli do without: ”Seeing the malice of the age, in order that they may better defend them- continued on page 3

Recognition of mutual equality – prerequisite for peace and development “The political enlightenment was a ing their freedom according to com- ly of intra-mundane rational character natural law doctrine. It was based on mon laws so that the freedom of each and are not bound to any theological the nature of man as a human being, individual can remain with the freedom condition. Therein a minimum of nat- not as a Catholic or Protestant, as a of all. By doing this, they subordinate ural law is expressed, that includes all Christian or Heathen, as European or their animal nature under a nature with religions, cultures, traditions and is es- Asian, as freeman or slave, etc. It states common sense and thus overcome the sential to establish a universal peace.” the question for the conditions under principle of the right of the stronger, which people can cooperate peacefully faster, smarter, of the brutal and un- and friendly. The answer was: by put- scrupulous ones. Thus, they create the Martin Kriele: Die demokratische Weltrevolution und andere Beiträge. ting themselves into a legal situation, freedom where every human being and Berlin 1997, pp. 15. and that means with an established every people can act self-determined, wording by Kant: by people and states to materialise his best capabilities, to mutually acknowledging themselves as work together like brothers and to keep (Translation Current Concerns) having equal rights and by constrain- peace. Question and answer are pure- No 32/33 31 December 2015 Current Concerns Page 3

”A view on the commemorative …” continued from page 2 ed themselves as protagonists with a will to strengthen the principle of cooperatives. Hence it did become an important founda- tion of Switzerland and has lost none of its validity to this day. 1415: Conquest of Aargau – “Tagsatzung” as expression of the principle of cooperative Doubtless, not only the forming of the “Confederacy”, but the inner state inte- gration and consolidation of the individ- ual cantons was a lengthy process. How- ever, fact is that this process was initiated around 1300 and continued far into the 15th century. At the end of the 14th centu- ry the individual “countries” represented themselves as collectively and territorial- ly defined political associations linked by a common use (the commons), “each one an individual alpine community with its own institutions”9, meaning among others Delegates of the Vienna Congress in a contemporary copper engraving of Jean the “Landsgemeinde”, (an assembly deal- Godefroy. (picture wikipedia) ing with internal matters, editor’s note). Characteristically for the spirit of co- mutual growth. The intensified coopera- thus establishing their imperial immedia- operative and the ideas of balance it was tion found its expression and increasing cy. With the de facto dissociation from the the formation of the federal “Tagsatzung”, importance in the “Tagsatzung”, being the Holy Roman Empire German Nation after (each associate partner delegates two rep- only centralised body of the Confederacy the Swabian War 1499, the Confederacy resentatives to deal with inter-valley mat- until 1848 (except for a short spell of time consequently performed the next step for ters, editor’s note) in the context of the during the Helvetic Republic). With their a unification process both internally and conquest of Aargau in 1415, then ruled by assemblies, where authorised delegates externally, even if the confessional segre- a Habsburg King. Thereby the confeder- from the Confederate Cantons jointly de- gation slowed it down over following cen- ates accomplished a further important step bated their affairs, the “Tagsatzung” grew turies. In this process the negotiations of on their path of inner state integration. to be of imminent importance. Andreas the “Tagsatzung” were the mirror image With the conquest “Gemeine Herrschaf- Würgler resolves: “The ‘Tagsatzung’, as of a constant striving to achieve an adjust- ten” (condominiums) were established a body for political assemblies, was not ment of the many fold demands. It pro- – areas the Confederacy, now consisting typical compared to other European repre- moted, like no other institution, the sense of eight Old Cantons, had to administer. sentative or state assemblies in early mod- of unity of the confederates: “The ‘Tagsat- This administrative occupation account- ern times […] because it was not based zung’ was and remains to be the symbol of ed for the necessary “cement” for further on feudal relations with a royal centre but the Confederacy”13 a voluntarily sworn alliances of commu- nities (community).”10 The expulsion of 1515: Battle of Marignano – the reeves from Habsburg was directed federal structure and neutrality against despotism and aimed at gaining In his essay “Über geschichtliches Verste- more independence. The establishing of hen und das Geschichtsbild der Schweiz” the “Gemeine Herrschaften” was, accord- (“On Historical Understanding und the his- ing to Vasella, “no sin contrary to the spir- torical self-perception of Switzerland”) Va- it of the alliances”11. “The establishing of sella highlighted the fact that instead of the areas of bailiwicks can only be understood military conflicts still being given so much from the federative structure of the feder- emphasis “the importance of the magnifi- acy. All the more it allowed the syntheses cent idea of arbitration ought to be stressed 14 of demands between the urban principle much more strongly”. In line with this ap- of rule and the spirit of the rural democ- proach Vasella strongly objected to the lib- racies. Actually the cantons have initially eral notion of unity and progress, which not been linked to the common bailiwicks and only had an enormous impact on Swiss his- only gradually to the towns. Especially the toriography from 1848 up until the 1950s joint ruling of the cantons has made a freer and even today still resurfaces now and development of the subject areas possible. then. According to Vasella, what charac- (…) It becomes apparent that the frequent- terised the Swiss Confederacy of the Mid- ly used term village and community free- dle Ages, was not a specifically designed dom is enormously fruitful.”12 policy for the Confederacy as a whole but King Sigismund’s summary confirma- local politics. Consequently, according to René Roca. Katholizismus und mod- tion of privileges after the federal con- Vasella, the idea of the diversity of Swiss erne Schweiz, will be published in spring quest of Aargau 1415 levelled the position 2016. ISBN 978-3-7965-3498-0 of the Eight Old Cantons by imperial law, continued on page 4 No 32/33 31 December 2015 Current Concerns Page 4

”A view on the commemorative …” as the Genevan Pictet de Rochement, “that today it is more necessary than ever continued from page 3 achieved a sound solution for Switzer- to remain Swiss in the deepest sense and land. Particularly helpful in the process to help study, represent and defend our politics or – put differently – the idea of was also the support of Russia. The “Act free government based on the cooperative “cultural and political importance of feder- of Acknowledgement and Guarantee of principle.”20 • alism” ought to come into the fore.15 Rath- Perpetual Neutrality of Switzerland” er than pursuing the idea of power politics stated: “The powers who signed the dec- 1 Oskar Vasella. Über geschichtliches Verstehen and the ideal of extending the power of the laration of 20 March acknowledge, in the und das Geschichtsbild der Schweiz, in: Arbe- state, the Swiss Confederacy gave priority most formal manner, by the present act, iten zur Psychologie, Pädagogik und Heilpäda- gogik, Band 16, Freiburg 1959, S. 87–97, heer to a liberty based on the cooperative prin- that the neutrality and inviolability of p. 88 ciple and, most importantly, to territori- Switzerland, and her independence of all 2 Jakob Tanner. “Die Schweizer Geschichte floriert”, al self-restraint: “In this manner the foun- foreign influence, enter into the true in- Interview, in: Neue Zürcher Zeitung, 9.1.2015 dations were laid for the federal structure terests of the policy of the whole of Eu- 3 ibid. 4 18 Bundesbrief der drei Orte Uri, Schwyz und Nidwal- of the Swiss Confederacy also for later pe- rope.” How times can change … den, in: Quellenwerk zur Entstehung der Schweiz- riods. This structure did not allow in any But back to history: In a “Tagsatzung” erischen Eidgenossenschaft. Urkunden, Chroni- way for power politics despite major mil- lasting from April 1814 to August 1815 ken, Hofrechte, Rödel und Jahrzeitbücher bis zum itary assets, meaning considerable human the Swiss Confederacy finally became a Beginn des XV. Jahrhunderts, herausgegeben von der Allgemeinen Geschichtsforschenden Gesells- resources, represented by masses of mer- confederation composed of 22 sovereign chaft der Schweiz, Abteilung I: Urkunden, Band I: cenaries.”16 According to Vasella the con- cantons with equal rights. In the Federal Von den Anfängen bis Ende 1291, bearbeitet von cept of a politics of expansion for the Con- Treaty of 1815, the first self-imposed con- Traugott Schiess, Aarau 1933, p. 776 5 ibid. federacy at large was missing: “Thus the stitution for Switzerland as a whole and 6 Die drei Länder erneuern den Bund des Jahres Battle of Marignano did not signify the de- in line with the Federal Charter of 1291 1291, in: Ebd., Band 2: Von Anfang 1292 bis Ende mise of Swiss power politics because previ- those responsible stipulated: “The XXII 1332, bearbeitet von Traugott Schiess, vollendet ously it had never existed anyway.”17 What sovereign cantons of Switzerland [at this von Bruno Meyer, Aarau 1937, S. 412 (own transla- tion from Middle High German) mattered most for the development of the point the enumeration of the cantons fol- 7 Roger Sablonier, 1315: ein weiteres Gründungsjahr Swiss polity was its federal structure which lows] unite themselves by the present der Eidgenossenschaft? Der Bundesbrief von 1315, also lies at the heart of neutrality as a rejec- treaty to assert their freedom, independ- in: Der Geschichtsfreund: Mitteilungen des His- torischen Vereins Zentralschweiz, Band 160, Zug tion of a deliberate expansion policy for the ence and security against all attacks from 2007, S. 9–24, hier p. 15, 17 Swiss Confederacy as a whole. foreign powers, and to maintain internal 8 ibid., p. 17 These historical preconditions contin- order and tranquillity.”19 9 Länder, p. 411–415 ued to unfold their effect in the subsequent With the Federal Treaty Switzerland 10 Roger Sablonier. Gründungszeit ohne Eidgenossen. Politik und Gesellschaft in der Innerschweiz um era of religious wars ultimately leading preserved significant democratic achieve- 1300, Baden 2008 the way to Switzerland’s de jure-separa- ments (including the abolition of subor- 11 Sablonier, Gründungsjahr, S. 20 tion from the Holy Roman Empire in 1648 dinate relationships or subject territories) 12 Andreas Würgler, Art. Tagsatzung, in: Historisches and its achievement of full sovereignty as which subsequently made it possible to Lexikon der Schweiz, Band 12, Basel 2013, S. 181– 185, hier S. 182 a confederation. gradually expand popular political rights 13 Vasella, Verstehen, p. 95 on the cantonal level. Up until the found- 14 Vasella, Verstehen, p. 96. 1815: Vienna Congress – ing of the Federal State in 1848 the sover- 15 Vasella, Verstehen, p. 96. Confirmation of permanent neutrality eign cantons acted as “laboratories of free- 16 Vasella, Verstehen, p. 90 17 As part of the second Paris peace treaty dom” and provided a constructive, though Vasella, Verstehen, p. 97 18 Act of Acknowledgement and Guarantee of the of 20 March 1815, concluded after Na- conflict-ridden, process of materialising Perpetual Neutrality of Switzerland and the Invio- poleon’s ultimate defeat, the European and developing of popular sovereignty and lability of its Territory, signed at Paris 20 Novem- powers recognised Switzerland’s steadi- direct democracy. A Confederation army, ber 1815, quoted from The Parliamentary Debates from the Year 1803 to the Present Times …, Vol. ly growing status of permanent neutrali- composed of contingents from the can- 32, 1 February to 6 March 1816, published under ty and guaranteed its territorial integrity. tons, provided external security. the superintendance of T.C. Hansard, London 1816, As the renowned legal expert Hans-Ul- Those four historical events and their p. 308. rich Walder emphasised again and again connections clearly show that the study 19 Bundesvertrag zwischen den XXII Kantonen der Schweiz vom 7. August 1815, translated from Kölz, this treaty of international law has never of Swiss history is worthwhile – many re- Quellenbuch, p. 193 been suspended and is still in force. In search fields are lying idle. What is still 20 Georg Thürer. Kultur des alten Landes Glarus. tough and persistent negotiations a num- needed are – to conclude with Georg Studie des Lebens einer eidgenössischen Demokra- ber of circumspect personalities, such Thürer’s words – citizens being convinced tie im 16. Jahrhundert, Glarus 1936, p. III No 32/33 31 December 2015 Current Concerns Page 5

The cooperative principle – its significance for justice and peace* by Dr Eva-Maria Föllmer-Müller The legal historian Otto Gierke (1841– respect to the community, either the do- “In Switzerland, the community-build- 1921), renowned as the “father of cooper- minion spirit or cooperative spirit.”3 ing and integrating element of the cooper- ative legislation”, due to his decisive con- Today, the cooperative concept re- atives has significantly contributed to the tributions to the cooperative legislation, is ceives increasing attention and dissemi- formation of a bottom organised statehood honoured in the Historical Dictionary of nation worldwide: cooperatives across all with its direct democracy. […] The basic Switzerland as “fundamental to the sci- divisions worldwide offer more than 100 principles of cooperative interaction cor- ence of history”. It states: “[Otto Gierke’s] million jobs, which means 20 per cent respond to the basic principles of human extensive cooperative concept covers any more than the multinationals offer. Ap- nature: the freedom to regulate fate by German public corporation based on free proximately one billion people worldwide human beings themselves, the awareness association, from the family to the state, are members of cooperatives. Thus, the that it is necessary to take their fate into where cooperation and dominion are in a UN General Assembly has declared the their own hands, and the cooperation, in- dialectical relationship.”1 year 2012 the International Year of Co- teraction for a common goal to the benefit This comprehensive cooperative concept operatives. Especially in troubled times, of all. […] Cooperation in freedom, ‘one also proves to be useful today, when it in times of crises, of rebuilding, when the for all and all for one’ – in other words: comes to basic principles of cooperative political system is limited due to lack of ‘together – for one another’ – the core interaction. funds, people are increasingly challenged principle of cooperative activities – is fun- Even before the end of World War to take initiative themselves. Cooperatives damental to personal initiative, creativity, II, in 1943, the famous Swiss histori- in their various forms foster the participa- responsibility, and finally also for social an Adolf Gasser submitted proposals on tion of people in the economic and social and individual development and is a con- how “peace [could be] achieved” i.e. how development, they contribute to the eradi- stitutional element of the dignity of man.”5 such a disaster could be prevented to hap- cation of poverty and make an important pen again. In addition to numerous lec- contribution to social peace. The coopera- The personalist concept of man tures, which he gave after the Nazi dic- tive principle includes fundamental values Fundamental to the cooperative principle, tatorship in war-torn Europe, he wrote of human coexistence in equality, freedom as we understand it, is the personalist con- down his suggestions in a very reada- and it is oriented towards the common cept of man. ble book called “Communal freedom as good. The principle of cooperation is fun- The personalist concept of man sees salvation of Europe”2. In it, among oth- damental. The historian Helmut Faust puts man as a fundamentally social being ers, he explains that there are basically it like this: “Uniting for mutual assistance whose personality fully develops in and two opposing types of state systems: the in a community is also the simple sense through the community, and who is ca- one is built from bottom up and the other of the cooperative concept.While it cor- pable of reason and ethics. Man is able from top down. The first is the coopera- responds to human nature, its implemen- to create culture and to set moral values. tive type, the second an authoritarian one. tation embraces the highest ethos people The personal concept of man is based The cooperative nature is based on volun- can achieve.”4 The cooperative principle on Christian values applicable to natural tary agreement and mutual trust, but also therefore does not only apply to economic law, which are confirmed by psychology. on mutual responsibility. The authoritar- and material issues, but includes the entire The historian and psychologist Dr Anne- ian state system is based on a centralistic human nature, it is thus a basic anthropo- marie Buchholz-Kaiser writes about this command that makes use of a strong army logical constant. in her essay “Personalist Psychology – and a tightly-organised civil service. Only More and more people move away The contribution of psychology and ed- in the cooperatively built states can true from the notion of “homo economicus” ucation to human dignity”6, which dealt freedom develop, because only there the and put the welfare of the people and the with the question how social responsibili- moral forces are formed which may pre- common good back at the centre of their ty and solidarity can be developed togeth- vent a predominance of social and polit- considerations. They do not consider the er with the fellow human beings: “Moral- ical contradictions. Alfred Gasser writes: human being an only utility-maximising ity does not need to be imposed on the “The contrastive pair ‘dominion – cooper- machine, but a moral person who is capa- people: It has its roots in the empathy, ative’ is perhaps the most significant con- ble of taking decisions and actions based which develops in a positive bond of the trast that is known in social history. The on an ethical foundation. It is the free child to its first caregiver. The forma- contrastive pair ‘authoritarian state – so- and responsible people and not the mar- tion of conscience, ethical behaviour and ciety state’ is about fundamental things: ket forces which determine the nature of moral sense, which take their beginning namely, the elementary foundations of our economic, social and political actions. here, are […] rooted in human nature. human communal life. In a fundamental Considering different economic and so- Empathy and compassion are the quali- way, the two opposing state organisations cial systems, we can see that it is in fact ties which put people in a position to as- differ primarily by spiritual and moral cri- the cooperative movement which is deep- sess the consequences of their actions for teria. Depending on the predominance of ly imbued with precisely this concept of their fellows and cause them to behave in one or the other principle the states seem man. a socially responsible manner.”7 to be inspired by the opposite spirit with From an anthropological perspective The individual psychologist Alfred Adler cooperative interaction is an ancient form described the sociality of man in the con- of human coping with life in self-help, cept of the “Gemeinschaftsgefühl” (com- * Speech delivered at the International Science self-responsibility and self-management, mon sense) which has been the core of his and Public Conference on the issue of “Yalta- which has evolved in different forms in teachings. For Adler, humaneness is the Potsdam-Belgrade: In Search for Secure World Order” hosted by the Belgrade Forum for a many places of the world. The foreword basic structure of human existence. Man World of Equals in Belgrade on 24 and 25 No- of the booklet published by the coopera- vember 2015. tive Zeit-Fragen/Current Concerns says: continued on page 6 No 32/33 31 December 2015 Current Concerns Page 6

”The cooperative principle …” operation, solidarity and the principle of and for the preservation of social peace in continued from page 5 mutual aid are constitutive for the develop- a country. • ment of social interest, for the social pro- is a social being, because he is only via- gress of mankind and for peace. Thus hu- 1 Historical Dictionary of Switzerland, 1998- ble in the community and can only reach manity is the real sense in life. Any form of 2014, Berne, www.hls-dhs-dss.ch/textes/d/ self-realisation, life fulfillment, satisfaction striving for power, the lust for power op- D8970.php. and contentment in the cooperative coexist- pose the common sense diametrically and 2 Gasser, Adolf, Gemeindefreiheit als Rettung Eu- ropas – Grundlinien einer ethischen Geschichtsauf- ence. Man can only become a human being will lead to man‘s downfall. fassung, (Communal freedom as salvation of Eu- in the community of cooperating fellow be- The basic principles of cooperative rope) 2nd edition, Basel, 1947 ings and thus contribute to peace. First of interaction, the association of people to 3 loc. cit. , p. 13 4 Faust, Helmut: Geschichte der Genossenschaftsbe- all this has to do with his biological imper- help themselves in self-responsibility and wegung, 3rd edition, Frankfurt a.M. Knapp, 1977, fection and the emerging helplessness and self-government for a common purpose p. 17 dependence. People are only capable of corresponds to the nature of man. Coop- 5 We establish a cooperative – Living and working coping with the tasks to ensure peace and eration in freedom and equality, self-de- together and for each other, Cooperative Zeit-Fra- gen/Current Concerns/Horizons et débats/Dicor- preserve life by joining forces with other termined and responsible action are es- so libero, 2014, foreword people, by division of labour and by coop- sential. 6 V. Conference “Mut zur Ethik”: Die Würde des eration. “Gemeinschaftsgefühl” is thus a Cooperative principles are founded an- Menschen (The dignity of man), Feldkirch 1997, publishing house Menschenkenntnis, Zurich, 1998. biological fact. All cultural achievements, thropologically and in their content they 7 ibid.: Buchholz-Kaiser, Annemarie: Personalist such as language development, have devel- correspond to the findings of psycholo- Psychology – The contribution of psychology and oped on the grounds of social interest. Co- gy. They are essential for the development education to human dignity. p. 87

“An entrenchment in one’s own culture, family and internalise its values. Coercion “bonum commune”. The economy must meaning the inner understanding of our only interferes with this, whereas insight serve life and not the other way around: culture’s universal values, is the condi- and solidarity represent far more powerful Natural Law, Christian Social Teach- tion for having a firm place in this world and viable moving force in the long run. ing, and also every ethic that is based on and in this time. It is also the condition The highest possible level of freedom human nature and life, and Personalist for establishing a respect for other peo- as has been realised in direct democ- Psychology have all come to this con- ple and their culture, and it is the condi- racy, is a subject that once again must clusion.” tion for a productive co-existence among be brought to discussion. It is impera- Excerpt from: peoples. […] tive in the face of a new form of oppres- Annemarie Buchholz-Kaiser, Freedom is equally necessary for sion on a global scale, and also in the “Strengthening Human Beings”, life as air is to breathe. Voluntariness in face of a ruthless globalizing economy Zurich 2000 human life is also an essential condition solely geared towards shareholder profit Source: Current Concerns No. 20/21 for a child to become secure within the while sacrificing human well-being, the from 29 June 2013

Brochures from “Zeit-Fragen” publishing house ISBN 978-3-909234-17-2 ISBN 978-3-909234-15-8 ISBN 978-3-909234-16-5 No 32/33 31 December 2015 Current Concerns Page 7

Development of EU law – What does it mean for Switzerland? Considerations from a viewpoint concerned with constitutional law and the politics of sovereignty Interview with Thomas Minder (Canton of Schaffhausen), member of the Swiss Council of States

In some of the bilateral agreements be- land either permanently or temporarily. So you want to tween Switzerland and the EU, we find We citizens expect the Swiss government clarify the legal provisions according to which Switzer- to ensure that Switzerland will decide its situation above land has undertaken to apply the so- own affairs as a sovereign state rather all? called “development” of EU law, that is, than continue to submit itself to EU law – I do, especially to take over EU edicts which were not even the future ones! – with usually only with regard to the yet in force at the time when Switzerland a barely audible protest. quota refugees. signed and ratified the agreement and For me, the haste which had often not even been expected Current Concerns: Mr Minder, what did with which the by anyone. According to the Swiss Con- you want to achieve with your interpel- Lampedusa Dub- federation’s website, this includes the lation? lin III Regulation Schengen/Dublin agreement: “Through Mr Thomas Minder, Council of States: I was composed Councillor of State association with the Schengen and Dub- am concerned with the question how such was unpleasant. Thomas Minder lin agreement, Switzerland is commit- a development can be organised in our Because in the be- (picture ms) ted to implementing developments of the legal framework, for instance, the EU’s ginning there was Schengen and Dublin legislative frame- ideas of distributing the refugee quotas. a referendum on the Dublin Agreement, works.”1 That issue will not only come up in bour- thus there should always be one on its fur- So far, there have been three “develop- geois circles. In what way will this con- ther development. Apparently, the Dublin ments” of the Dublin Agreements, called cern Switzerland? I am glad that the re- III Regulation was subject to a referen- Dublin I, II and III. They each were ad- sponse of the Federal Council makes dum. Because it was not so very impor- dressed with a so-called exchange of things clearer. I am sitting in the Politi- tant, the referendum question was not an notes between Switzerland and the EU. cal Institutions Committee of the Coun- issue. But it is still unpleasant to see that The Federal Council took note of the cil of States, which deals with the polit- we concede the point and rubber-stamp a changes and made sure that Switzerland ical asylum system. Some time ago we regulation and go without the legislative would adjust its legal system according- were discussing the so-called Dublin III procedure, for reasons of time and be- ly. Currently the European Commission Agreement. At that time it was a matter cause the EU is pressing ahead. is calling on Switzerland to comply with of Lampedusa because so many refugees the allocation of EU asylum seekers ac- were arriving there. At that time, Federal What do you think of the currently availa- cording to the proposed permanent dis- Councillor Ms Sommaruga came and said ble written response of the Federal Coun- tribution key. In the course of this it is that we would not have time for the ordi- cil, that this is not a case of EU Diktat? not the first time, that the constitutional- nary legislation, because that would take When I used the word diktat I meant that ly burning question arises of whether and two years, and the EU wanted us to move the EU wants to allocate quota refugees how the implementation of these EU deci- “as fast as the fire brigade.” Therefore, the to us. But the Federal Council has clearly sions are compatible with direct democra- adjustment was regulated via temporary assented voluntarily; they are in favour of cy. We, the citizens of Switzerland and our federal ordinance. (It took scarcely two the allocation formula. The EU Council elected parliamentarians, have to remind weeks from the Federal Council’s press has indeed not yet adopted the regulation, the Federal Council from time to time that release to the provisional entry into force it is a Commission proposal. Although the they are committed in the first place to the of Dublin III. And this was at the time of Federal Council is in favour of the previ- Swiss sovereign and not to the Brussels the official holidays!3) It was not until a ously discussed four factors (population, potentates. In this sense, member of the year after this fait accompli that the Fed- GDP, previous asylum applications, un- Council of States, Thomas Minder (Can- eral Council issued an ordinary decision, employment rate), this topic will be in- ton of Schaffhausen, entrepreneur, inde- which was then subjected to an optional tensively discussed in parliament. The pendent), submitted his interpellation to referendum. key question, by the way, has not been an- find out what the Federal Council’s point Now I suppose that there will be a swered: Will all the refugees who come of view about the Brussels request men- “Dublin IV” concerning the refugee quo- to Switzerland be allocated via Brussels? tioned was and how they intend to safe- tas, again accompanied by an exchange of guard the democratic rights of the parlia- notes between the EU and Switzerland. So does the Federal Council agree before ment and the people.2 But this time it will not be possible to rub- the EU Member States are agreeing? In this context it is clearly to be noted ber-stamp this so easily by way of the Fed- Yes, they say they are in favour of the EU that the author of this interpellation and eral Council and the committees (meaning Commission’s proposal. But I am glad that along with him the vast majority of the the pertinent commissions of the Nation- it is not simply a development of Dublin, Swiss population do not at all question al Council and the Council of States). If in which we would have almost no say, but the humanitarian obligation of Switzer- it really comes down to an exchange of that there will at least be an exchange of land towards refugees and other people notes, and if again there is to be no law but notes. As Dublin III was subject to a refer- in need. Of course, Switzerland will con- due to time pressure just a regulation, we endum, then Dublin IV, that is the issue of tinue – as it has always done – to allow would have to assure to subject it to an op- quota refugees, must be all the more sub- every human being with a reason for asy- tional referendum from scratch. I imagine ject to a referendum. lum, and many others who come from that it would come to a referendum vote war and crisis areas, to come to Switzer- in that case. continued on page 8 No 32/33 31 December 2015 Current Concerns Page 8

”Development of EU law – …” This would be a new phenomenon, and Mr Minder, member of the Council of continued from page 7 would have constitutional status. States, thank you very much for the inter- view. • So it was an important goal of your inter- So your main concern was also to clari- (Interview Marianne Wüthrich) pellation that the voters can have a say. fy whether important decisions bypass the You even posed the question of whether people, also bypass parliament … Dublin IV would not have to be subject to Not quite by parliament, but Dublin III 1 www.sem.admin.ch/sem/de/home/interna- a mandatory referendum. We can prob- was only submitted to the commissions for tionales/internat-zusarbeit/europa-migpolitik/ schengen-dublin.html ably already negate this question, can’t a consultative review and not to the entire 2 cf. Interpellation 15.3915, “Permanenter EU-Ver- we? Parliamentary Councils, and that is ques- teilschlüssel für Flüchtlinge. Reaktion der Schweiz Talking as we are, you are right. It would tionable, that the processes are in this way und Vereinbarkeit mit der Masseneinwanderungs- Initiative” (Permanent allocation key for refugees. need “scho es bitzeli meh” (Swiss dia- bypassed due to time constraints. In my ca- Reaction of Switzerland and compatibility with the lect: “just a little bit more”) for a man- pacity as an entrepreneur I am also a per- Popular Initiative “Stop Mass Immigration”) datory referendum. But of course we son who likes to move full throttle, but if 3 “Der Bundesrat hat heute entschieden, einen Grossteil der Bestimmungen der neuen Dublin- have to think in this direction: At the the EU says it is urgent, and we just need III-Verordnung gleichzeitig mit allen anderen beginning there was the referendum on two years until a law is passed by all dem- Dublin-Staaten ab dem 1. Januar 2014 vorläufig Schengen/Dublin, and the refugee quo- ocratic processes ... For instance the Lex anzuwenden. Die Verordnung betrifft den Asylb- tas represent such a new system that they USA was pushed through in the course of ereich und hat zum Ziel, das Dublin-System ef- fizienter zu machen und die Rechtsgarantien von cannot be simply waved through with- 3 weeks, and the same goes for the flat rate Asylsuchenden zu stärken.» (Medienmitteilung des out the participation of the electorate, the withholding tax for Austria, Germany, the Bundesrates vom 18.12.2013)) people. Since our asylum system is fed- UK. When a demand comes from outside, (The Federal Council decided today to provision- ally apply the bigger part of the new Dublin III pro- eralist (cooperation between the federal then we push the thing through as if it were visions simultaneously with all the other Dublin- government and the cantons and com- a fire run. But such an accelerated proce- states starting from 1 January 2014. The regulation munes), it is impossible that a fourth dure does not comply with the Swiss con- concerns the area of asylum and aims at making the Dublin-System more efficient and at reinforc- level, which is Brussels, is virtually em- cept of democracy – that is what I wanted ing the legal safeguards for asylum seekers.” (Press powered to make final decisions about to remind the Federal Council and my col- Release issued by the Swiss Government on 18 De- how many refugees we are to receive. leagues in the Council of States. cember 2013)

Danish people defend their sovereignty mw. It’s all over town: It is not just the erendum held in 2000: the Danes re- pate in the supranational Europol re- Swiss but all the peoples who want to mained with their national currency, gime, it has to make efforts to achieve decide themselves on their own af- the Danish krone. In their latest deci- parallel agreements with the EU (ac- fairs. On 3 September 2015 also the sion now, the Danes said “no” to clos- cording to the daily press, e.g. “Frank- majority of the Danes have voted in er ties with EU’s security policy, justice furter Allgemeine Zeitung” of 3 De- a referendum against the abolition and internal affairs. Specifically, they cember 2015). of their special rules with the EU. In also said “no” to a centralised regu- Aha, listen to this, independence 1992 the Danish sovereign had reject- lation of police cooperation with Eu- loving Swiss speaks to himself. It is ed the Maastricht Treaty and there- ropol. This happened despite the rec- possible after all to negotiate parallel fore does not participate fully in the ommendation of the government and agreements with Brussels. How about EU’s security policy, justice and home most of the political parties. a renegotiation of the Agreement on affairs. The accession to the Monetary Particularly interesting for us Swiss: the Free Movement of Persons be- Union was rejected as well in a ref- As Denmark is not willing to partici- tween Switzerland and the EU?

A protection clause – what for?

At first glance it might be assumed that the tion? Is the right of Swiss citizens to work in all citizens. Does the Federal Council want Federal Council has become somewhat en- their home country be protected by prefer- this complete free movement of citizens couraged in the matter of the free move- ence of nationals? Does the Federal Coun- with the EU or does it want us to remain ment of persons. It takes into consideration, cil want to prevent that Swiss citizens have an independent country with its own civil perhaps against the will of the EU, to im- to emigrate into the EU because of unem- rights? This question has to be honestly an- plement a safeguard clause relating to the ployment? Currently, the EU nations do not swered by the Federal Council at all levels free movement of persons. This could also have things under control. Do we have con- in the next months. If not, we should have be rhetoric. For this reason, the alert citi- trol in Switzerland and do we want to keep the courage to enquire precisely. zen may make a specific enquiry: What it up? Do we want to pass on direct democ- precisely does the Federal Council intend racy to future generations or do we want to Ivo Muri, Switzerland to protect with its safeguard clause? Is the end up in the non-democratic EU? We must population growth to be inhibited? Are ter- be aware that what we call the free move- ritorial claims of the Swiss citizens to their ment of persons today, already exists in the home to be protected from foreign infiltra- EU as a de facto complete free movement of (Translation Current Concerns) No 32/33 31 December 2015 Current Concerns Page 9

Germany at the end of 2015 Only thriving for sovereignty may have a future by Karl Müller For quite some time now in Germany, po- verting the concept that distinguishes the power, ruling Germany.” A politician who lemics are directed against everything and striving for national sovereignty. does not respect Germany’s sovereignty, everybody who emphasises the value of In his book “Die Souveränität does not act “as a representative of the Ger- national sovereignty. In recent weeks, this Deutschlands” (The sovereignty of Germa- man people. In any case, his policy does not polemic has tremendously increased in ny, ISBN 978-3-86445-043-3) published in serve the welfare of the German people, does pungency. It displays – on the part of the es- 2012, Karl Albrecht Schachtschneider ex- not augment its benefits, but harms it, he nei- tablished power politics as well as of some plains carfully and profoundly why the pur- ther respects nor does he defend the Consti- governmental institutions, discriminato- suit of sovereignty is an indispensable part of tution and laws of the Federation; he does ry and law-breaking features by word and the dignity and freedom of man. He begins not exercise his duties conscientiously nor deed. We must assume that domestically his writing as follows: “The defense of the does he practice any justice to all, as his oath motivated “false flag operations” are being nation states’ sovereignty against the post- of office, evidenced by Article 64, paragraph employed as well. national world domination is the current oc- 2 of the Basic Law in conjunction with Arti- This sharpness, however, is nothing but cupation of those who refuse to give up the cle 56 paragraph 1 of the Basic Law, obliges an unmissable sign of weakness. This be- freedom of citizens as human beings. Sov- him to do. Rather, he serves foreign interests. comes obvious if you look at the results of ereignty is freedom. Only in constitutional This can no longer be masked.” those policies which repeatedly called na- states, democracies and welfare states, which These “foreign interests” appear in Ger- tional sovereignty into question during the means in republics, it can become reality.” man politics every day. From TTIP to the past 25 years. The long list of violence and And the following remarks he concludes: Germany’s war deployment in Syria, from injustice must not again be submitted here. “In case Germany is not sovereign, there will the so-called education reform to the redef- The polemic against the idea of ​​national be a different state or a community of states sovereignty is therey (deliberately) per- or a person or a group of persons, i.e. any continued on page 10 “Actually, this is not about Syria” by Hermann Ploppa*, Germany The German Federal Government de- wards our ally France1. The “Bundeswehr” much better.” So there are some German ploys “Bundeswehr” (German Military) mission was not embedded into any over- Flying Dinosaurs plodding behind the up- planes to the war in Syria. Experts regard all strategy which was lacking anyway, he to-date fighter jets, getting a commission that as an aimless activism. Yet that ac- said. It does not make any military sense to now and then, out of pity and to have them tionism is part of a long term strategy. bomb ground targets from a high altitude. out of the way for a while? Do we have to The IS fighters approach the battlefield in look at it that way? So now an overwhelming majority of civilian vehicles and otherwise live among It is German tradition that senior officers our parliamentarians agreed to the Bun- civilians. Attacking them will lead to the raise their voice against obvious strategic deswehr mission in Syria. Such energy so-called collateral damage among the civil nonsense. We can safely assume that these and vigour of fighting evil manifested in population. Air operations would make veterans are speaking in the name of their the terror squadrons of the Islamic State is sense only if they were in cooperation with active comrades in the “Bundeswehr” who impressive, isn’t it. We democrats do not ground troops. However, this was only the are not allowed to speak up due to their po- let bearded headshunters in sandals intim- case for the Russian Air Force mission in litical loyalty to the Federal Government. idate us. We do something. Syria. They are collaborating closely with We can also assume that it is incompatible Four German Tornado fighter jets are the Syrian government’s ground troops. with the professional ethos of a soldier to meant to impress the Stone Age Muslims. And since apart from the Russians nobody perform obvious nonsense abroad. In addition, we are protecting French air- had a coordinated command structure, too But: Though this be idiocy, yet there is craft carriers and we are also supplying many over-active cooks were spoiling the method in it. Why are there a lot of fight- staff for the French mission’s headquar- broth. And this leads Kujat to the conclu- er planes flying over Syria, aiming at the ters. We do something. sion: “Any additional air power will ad- ground, with no overarching strategy (with It is just a bit embarrassing that even ditionally complicate the situation.” Only the exception of the Russian Air Force)? two experienced former top-ranking mili- political and humanitarian solutions could The German Tagesschau cites Guido Stein- tary staff label the German contribution an help. berg, an expert of the US-related think tank “aimless activism”. Harald Kujat, a former Even more harshly the obviously dis- Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik3, an insti- German Air Force General. Kujat quali- tressed former lieutenant colonel and tution officially counselling the German fies the German military debut in the Mid- NATO mission planner Ulrich Scholz in Federal Government, who openly states: dle East as a purely symbolic gesture to- an interview in the Tagesschau attacks the “Actually, this is not about Syria”4. Rath- German military involvement in Syria2. er it was about Chancellor Merkel trying Hermann Ploppa is a political scientist and The mandate was “strategically mean- to support her French colleague François publicist. In addition to numerous articles for Telepolis, Junge Welt, radio Deutschlandfunk, ingless… just a gesture towards France”. Hollande in his struggle against Le Pen’s Nachdenkseiten, Crashkurs or Current Scholz also complains about the lack of right-wing populists in the elections – in Concerns, Ploppa published two books on collaboration between ground troops and France! By the way, Steinberg predicts that contemporary history: “Hitler’s American air force. In addition, the Tornadoes were the IS would be further strengthened by Teachers - The elites of the United States as an obstetrician of National Socialism” (2008), and simply completely obsolete: “… this is Vi- Germany’s military activism. “The people behind the scenes – a s transatlantic etnam technology we have here … drones networks subvert democracy “(2014). and F-16 now on site there can do this continued on page 10 No 32/33 31 December 2015 Current Concerns Page 10

”‘Actually, this is not …‘” not get out of this adventure so soon. That USA. If we bury our heads in the sand and continued from page 9 much is certain, the German taxpayer pres- hope that all things will be fine; if we do not ently contributes amounting to 134 million prepare ourselves immediately and serious- In case this was true, an impeachment EUR for the engagement in Syria and sur- ly for the terrorist attacks that will happen procedure against the current Federal Gov- rounding areas. However, this will probably in retaliation for our military intervention ernment would have to be urgently initi- resemble the cost estimate for a new home: in already now hopelessly muddled combat ated: German soldiers operating abroad, After completion the cost will exceed the situations; we indeed have already given up risking their life as a campaign aide for the budget by far. But actually we would ur- our civil society. Germany with its wealth is French Socialists? However, Steinberg’s gently need these 134 million plus euro to in fact an extremely interesting growth mar- statement lacks plausibility. No Govern- support the states and municipalities in their ket for the cancer-like growing global mili- ment has ever sent soldiers abroad in order crisis management in the refugee disaster. tary industrial complex. to help a foreign chief of state that is stuck Let’s go back to the two former top offic- After the dreadful massacre in Paris on in the mud. Steinberg’s hypothesis should ers of the Bundeswehr, General Kujat and Friday, November 13, 2015, champagne rather be understood as an ideological Lieutenant Colonel Scholz. In the above corks popped in arms companies. The fol- smoke grenade. mentioned interview both emphasize that lowing Monday the shares of the arms in- The Don-Quixote operation of the Bun- from now on, Germany will be the target of dustry at the New York Stock Exchange deswehr in Syria is in fact only part of a long- terrorist attacks more than ever before. This sky-rocketed.8 The shares of Lockheed term military presence in the Middle East. is as sure as day follows night. Just as Paris, Martin rose by 3.5% and Northrop Grum- The fact is well camouflaged with the sooner or later Berlin will burn and blood man increased by 4.4%. Of course, the term “Syria commitment”. Who precise- will flow. And Germany as well is going arms industries have their own analysts, ly examines the mandate approved of by to become a high security prison. Just as is as for example the company Stifel located a Parliament majority, notices the follow- already the case with France. For the first in Missouri in the United States. For the ing: With this mandate “Bundeswehr” mis- time since the Second World War residents year 2016 Stifel predicts Golden times for sions have not only been approved in Syria, of a Paris suburb have been placed under the arms industry: “As the most likely out- but actually in all countries where the IS is collective house arrest. “Security” forces in come we will see political support for de- wreaking havoc.5 Consequently, the man- full gear dominate the street. People are in fense spending, and that in the year 2016 date provides a carte blanche for military shock and simply tolerate everything. more focus will be put on national securi- missions in Iraq, the Eastern Mediterrane- France is being transformed into a mil- ty and terrorism in the debates on the oc- an, the Red Sea, the Persian Gulf and all ad- itary state. And every act of terrorism ac- casion of the elections, which will bring jacent sea areas. Only reserve: The affect- celerates the already long-planned ar- positive headlines for military corpora- ed states must agree to the military mission. mament of our western neighbour. The tions with high probability.”9 • The local governments are vulnerable, the assassination of the editor of the magazine infrastructures and security architectures are Charlie Hebdo in spring of 2015, gave the 1 Former-Nato-General Harald Kujat. weak, so are the governments concerned. If Grande Nation the opportunity to bleed Interview in armed forces and strategies, NDR, 28.11.2015, 19.20 h www.ndr.de/info/ required, they will be happy to consent to their taxpayers dry with a monstrous four sendungen/streitkraefte_und_strategien/ the dismantling of their national sovereign- billion euro increase of the defense budg- Anti-Terror-Kampf-Gesamtstategie-nicht-in- ty. In the post-9/11 era no-one cares about et.6 The massacre in Paris in the autumn Sicht,streitkraefte366.html such formalities any longer. Turkish troops of the same year created the atmospheric 2 Interview with retired lieutenant colonel Ulrich Scholz in Tagesschau of 26.11.2015 www. have occupied parts of Iraq without asking conditions to extort from the French citi- tagesschau.de/multimedia/video/video-136135. for the Iraqi government’s permission. Tur- zens an additional one billion euro for ar- html key is a member of NATO. So far, NATO mament.7 Shocked, the citizens of France 3 zur SWP: Hermann Ploppa, Die Macher hinter has not prompted Turkey to immediately re- are willingly giving their money and re- den Kulissen – Wie transatlantische Netzwerke verse this invasion – not to mention NATO nouncing their civil rights and their enti- heimlich die Demokratie unterwandern; Frankfurt 2014. p. 92f. possible sanctions against Turkey. tlement to social progress. 4 Tagesschau of 6.12.2015, report by Michael The Bundeswehr is now firmly caught All of that is held in store for us, too. The Stempfle, quoted Steinberg in the cobweb of Middle Eastern entangle- Federal Republic of Germany and in par- www.tagesschau.de/inland/bundeswehr- ments. Officially, the mandate is limited ticular the capital city of Berlin are current- syrien-111.html 5 Tagesschau, Hintergrund, 1.12.2015 www. to 31 Decembre 2016. Well, that’s an old ly still very open and relaxed compared to tagesschau.de/ausland/syrien-einsatz- story: How often was the deadline for the the highly controlled and in sections locked Afghanistan engagement extended? We will up public spaces in France, England or the continued on page 11

”Only thriving for sovereignity …‘” rialistic market radical world trampels on want it. The equation national sovereignty continued from page 9 the fundamental achievements of the inter- equals nationalism, chauvinism and racism national community. This must be stopped! equals injustice, violence and discord has inition of all fundamental values ​​in com- By the way, sovereign nation states were never been an all-inclusive truth. Howev- munal life. Deconstruction and chaos are and are, of course, able to conclude inter- er, national sovereignty, self-determination on the agenda. Discord and injustice. The national agreements about cross-border in- and equality of sovereign nation states dis- lust for power of merely a few. Internation- ternational tasks and conclude contracts. turb international relations and internation- al Governance instead of a free and dem- They are able to adopt solutions that reflect al politics, in case someone wants to create ocratic constitutional state. Market radi- the will of the peoples involved. Contracts and dominate entire continents or even the cal profit orientation rather than common which have equal and sovereign contractors whole world according to his ideas – for good. Incapacitation of the citizen and his and which are binding, and which follow whatever reasons and whatever purpose: and her denigration down to a stupid Homo the principle of good faith – but which can ideological, material or power political. economicus. Dictatorship instead of de- also be terminated and renegotiated if it is The full sovereignty of a country like mocracy. Again, the list is long and terrible. the will of the people. Germany cannot be achieved overnight. 70 years after the end of World War II as The question remains: why is there But every citizen is called upon contribut- well as the founding of the United Nations such a poignant polemic against the idea ing to put things on the right track for the and the adoption of its Charter, the impe- of national​ sovereignty and the people who future of his or her country. • No 32/33 31 December 2015 Current Concerns Page 11 The importance of dialogue between civilizations for international relations** by Prof. Dr. DDr. h.c. Hans Köchler

Today it is impor- tant that we look “My point with these remarks is to scrutinize the very approach to beyond our gar- den fence and try dialogue in the context of contemporary politics. In that regard, I see to understand the myself in the tradition of Dr Annemarie Buchholz-Kaiser who une- different lifestyles, quivocally pointed to the multi-polar structure of today’s world and worldviews and value systems of stressed the resulting need to reach an understanding beyond ideo- the peoples of our logical boundaries. In her article in Current Concerns, No. 28 of 18 international com- September 2013 she wrote: ‘Let us join hands whatever our world- Hans Köchler munity, and see view may be.’ This is the immediate problem we are facing; what we (picture ef) this diversity as an opportunity to de- are experiencing here and now is a serious failure, indeed a sham- velop our own point of view. Although bles, of the international policy of dialogue.” this may seem idealistic in view of re- cent events, we could also say that cul- tural hermeneutics, especially in the era With regard to politics, it is by now a know now, happened only a quarter of a of globalization, has acquired an eminent generally accepted fact that – since the century later. political significance that reaches beyond not yet fully explained events of 2001 – I cannot speak here in detail about the traditional concerns of the educated the formula “dialogue of civilizations” the philosophical principles of dialogue middle class. has become the epitome of global “polit- among civilizations. However, I would ical correctness”. The phrase has already like to give brief a historical hint before The Alliance of Civilizations is an initia- been used in global discourse in the year I address the current constellation: Back tive of now 139 member states of the Unit- 2000 – that is before the events of 2001 – then, when we launched the concept in the ed Nations. When one looks at the name, by the then President of Iran, Mohammad early 70s, we also organized a conference those states obviously seek more than Khatami. On his instigation, the UN sub- on the cultural identity of peoples. Since mere dialogue, namely a kind of union of sequently decided that 2001 should be the the world cultural organization of the UN civilizations. When it comes to states, and “United Nations Year of Dialogue among had responded positively to our initiative, not individuals or groups of civil society, Civilizations.” it eventually happened in cooperation with one must, however, always raise the ques- Given the political monopolization of UNESCO in 1974. It is worthy of note that tion as to what concrete aim, and on the this formula by virtually all sides and par- at the time at least one international states- basis of what ulterior motives, such an al- ties in the global interplay of forces, a man, the Secretary-General of the United liance has been forged for – and if need philosophical examination seems appro- Nations, Kurt Waldheim, understood the be, against whom or what. This is quite priate. importance of the paradigm of dialogue justified, because among the 139 states Very briefly I would like to touch on among civilizations and cultures also at that have officially declared themselves the history of the term – from the time the political level. In a special message, “Friends of the Alliance of Civilizations” before it became a buzzword in world addressed the participants of our confer- many are actively involved in armed con- politics. I developed the dialogue para- ence in Innsbruck, he said: “There is no flicts – which are often wars with civiliza- digm and the related philosophical con- future for mankind unless tolerance and tional undertones. cepts more or less in the period of the understanding between cultures and na- Cold War. In the early 1970s – precisely tions become the rule rather than the ex- in 1972, when we were about to found the ception.” International Progress Organization – I My point with these remarks is to scru- ”‘Actually, this is not …‘” continued from page 11 gave a lecture at Innsbruck University on tinize the very approach to dialogue in the question, “How can peace be secured the context of contemporary politics. In bundeswehr-101~_origin-57931567-6f5a-4dcc- in an era of ideological confrontation be- that regard, I see myself in the tradition b7cd-a5ac1b8b2c88.html tween communism and capitalism?” This of Dr Annemarie Buchholz-Kaiser who 6 Grande Nation, Charles Liebherr, 29.4.2015 was the time of the East-West conflict. unequivocally pointed to the multi-polar www.chli.paris/2015/04/29/frankreich- My conclusion then was that peace can erhoeht-militaerbudget-um-10-prozent-nach- structure of today’s world and stressed the den-attentaten/ only be permanently secured on the basis resulting need to reach an understanding 7 Manager Magazin, 17.11.2015, Frankreich of a genuine dialogue between the vari- beyond ideological boundaries. In her arti- bittet EU-Länder formell um Beistand. ous cultural and civilizational identities. cle in Current Concerns, No. 28 of 18 Sep- www.manager-magazin.de/politik/ In this year (1972) I wrote a letter to the tember 2013 she wrote: “Let us join hands europa/eu-frankreich-bittet-formell-um- beistand-a-1063231.html Division of Philosophy of UNESCO and whatever our worldview may be.” This is 8 Mother Jones, 18.11.2015, Weapons Companies’ suggested that the organization attend to the immediate problem we are facing; Stock Surge after Paris Attacks. www. the subject of a “dialogue between civili- what we are experiencing here and now is motherjones.com/politics/2015/11/weapons- zations” as a basis of world peace. Unfor- a serious failure, indeed a shambles, of the company-stock-rally-paris-attacks-isis as well as CNN Money, 18.11.2015, ‘War on tunately, the time for the idea had not yet international policy of dialogue. ISIS’ stocks rise after Paris attacks. http:// come; the political environment was sim- Two circumstances characterize the money.cnn.com/2015/11/16/investing/paris- ply not conducive to the pursuit of such current situation: attacks-defense-stocks-isis/ a goal – and our initiative did not trigger 9 Mother Jones, loc. cit. anything at the political level. This, as we continued on page 12 No 32/33 31 December 2015 Current Concerns Page 12

”The importance of dialogue …” vice, and now we are faced with the con- One should also mention here to the continued from page 11 sequences. utter geostrategic confusion in the face A chain of events has been set in mo- of the disintegration of the political order First: Armed conflicts – despite all the tion the consequences of which make the that was imposed on the region of the protestations of the powerful – continue proponents of a dialogue of civilizations Middle East in the wake of World War I. to be waged with undiminished force. An appear helpless, if not totally untrust- It is no coincidence that those who speak example is the confrontation, with strong worthy. The question arises whether we for the “Islamic State” have grandly de- ideological undertones, between the Mus- are dealing here with – as the Americans clared that the emergence of this entity lim and Western world, which is again es- would say – “unintended consequenc- is about to trigger the end of “Sykes-Pi- calating dangerously. This is most obvi- es” of political and military interference, cot”, the secret agreement concluded in ous in what is happening in Iraq, Syria, or whether long-term considerations of 1916 between a diplomat from Britain Libya, Mali, Nigeria and other countries power politics are behind these develop- and his counterpart from France, which and regions. There is not only the ideo- ments. established the boundaries in this region logical confrontation “Islam – Western In the present situation, the crucial against the will and without the consulta- world,” but also an intensifying intra-Is- question is the following: How can one, tion of the peoples concerned. In our era lamic theological conflict between Shiite when gathering in beautiful Bali in Indo- that has seen the proclamation of a “dia- and Sunni Islam, and also between differ- nesia [site of a UN conference in August logue of civilizations,” one is, thus, well ent factions within the Sunni community 2014] in order to talk about the Alliance advised to investigate the political and his- concerning the interpretation of the doc- of Civilizations and the promotion of di- torical causes behind these developments. trine. Furthermore, it should be noted that alogue, pursue such noble objectives by I would like to make the following new ideological divides between East and brute force, i. e. a policy of armed inter- three points: West are emerging even in Europe, as is vention aimed at “régime change” in for- First, despite all assurances to the con- evident in the Ukraine conflict. It is a re- eign countries? trary, the political actors denied to each grettable fact that war is still considered The protagonists of world politics who other even the most basic respect. In par- as a means for settling disputes. In this re- have officially devoted themselves to di- ticular, the Western world for decades, and spect, the principles of the Charter of the alogue have actually created a political especially since the end of the Cold War, United Nations, banning any threat or use climate that brought about a new era of aimed to shape the Eastern – and specifi- of force between states, have not been im- crusade-like conflicts – however one may cally the Muslim – world in its own image. plemented yet. evaluate this personally. One could refer It is now absolutely crucial to analyze the Secondly, it should be noted: Unlike here, inter alia, to the ongoing interven- situation as rationally as possible and sine perhaps as in earlier epochs, technological tions in Afghanistan (2001), Iraq (2003), ira et studio [without hate and zealous- and economic development today does not Libya (2011) and Syria (since the begin- ness, i.e. absolutely factually] because allow a precise separation of the interna- ning of the year 2011 as well). Looking emotional convictions will not get us any- tional (intergovernmental) and national di- at these cases of armed intervention, one where. One has to face the historical truth. mension any longer. The so-called “clash cannot avoid being skeptical of all the ide- In the case of Iraq, we should realize that of civilizations”, as Huntington called it, alistic rhetoric. initially the citizens of this country were does not only occur at both levels; there Furthermore, it has become a regret- subjected to a cruel and comprehensive is also an interdependence between the table fact that repeated Western interven- policy of sanctions, which lasted more national and international level. This, for tions in the Muslim world have led to a than ten years (from 1990 on) and caused instance, is becoming obvious in the in- situation in which the survival of the in- the death of up to one million people, and creasing number of disputes in the con- digenous Christian communities through- that subsequently – after the 2003 war of text of multiculturalism in Europe. They out all of the Middle East – and especial- aggression – the Sunnis in Iraq were sys- cannot be separated from the conflicts in ly in Syria and Iraq – is no longer to be tematically marginalized and humiliated; the Middle East, in which European states taken for granted. This is an issue to which one might also say they were delivered have interfered directly or indirectly in re- the Western media should pay much more to the revenge of their enemies. How – I cent years. As early as in 2011, at the be- attention. In this regard, I notice the total would like to ask here – was then British ginning of the so-called Arab Spring – or helplessness of the global political estab- Prime Minister Tony Blair, who convert- “Arab Revolt,” to use a more neutral term lishment vis-à-vis the so-called Islam- ed to Catholicism, able to reconcile such – I warned against interference from out- ic state, and especially the phenomenon a genocidal policy with his conscience – side. I have said this in various Turkish of “Caliphate proclamations” (e.g. for an he who, as a public figure, used to empha- newspapers. However, as we know today, area that includes large parts of Iraq and sized the value of religion and morality in the state chancelleries did not heed my ad- Syria, as well as in Nigeria). his speeches? The developments in Syria and Iraq – with the emergence of a new entity (the An addendum to the climate conference so-called Islamic State) of which I do not know how it will consolidate and how Of course we have to take care of our beau- cially sinc such a reorientation definitely long it will exist – did not come out of the tiful Earth and naturally of its atmosphere. makes sense economically. blue. It happened against a particular his- It is the respect for life and our care for our What I miss in the Final Declaration torical and social background. In relations childret that makes such a claim self-ev- of Paris is the demand to end all wars im- between collectives, the law of action and ident. It is also apparent to everyone that mediately. In my view this request has to reaction has always applied throughout we look for new sources of energy and that come first, especially if you – apart from history. we must promote their use, if only because the endless human suffering – consider Second point: The political reorganiza- the energies that we are using today are fi- how much energy is wasted with every tion in accordance with the vision of the nite. Even the skeptics, who doubt that we bomb that destroys our world; and that is so-called Greater Middle East was pri- humans can control the global warming or certainly not CO2-neutral. marily pursued by violent means. These the cooling of the earth at all, let alone the exact degree, will not object to that, espe- Dieter Sprock continued on page 13 No 32/33 31 December 2015 Current Concerns Page 13

”The importance of dialogue …” continued from page 12 “Under the prevailing conditions, the implementation of an agenda of ‘dialogue’ or ‘alliance’ of civilizations can only mean: included sanctions and outright armed in- tervention, but also – as integral part of 1. To refrain from trying to set the other right, i.e. not to claim this strategy – patronizing and ideologi- moral superiority, looking down at the other as target of one’s “edu- cal indoctrination of a population that was cational” mission in the name of civilization. seen as to be proselytized or re-educated 2. Non-interference, not only in military but also in ideological according to our Western notions of de- mocracy and freedom. terms (including metaphysical worldviews). This also means to re- Third point: As already indicated, this frain from self-righteousness of any kind. policy resulted –– in a growing alienation 3. Civilizational reasoning should have no place in the pursuit of of the Muslim population in Europe and in a casting of doubts – on both sides – on concrete policy objectives. The real, especially economic, interests what is commonly referred to as “multi- behind political action are to be made transparent. That would mean culturalism.” After all, this is the “sham- that the global play for power and influence does not hide behind bles” of which I spoke earlier. Consequently, the propagation of a di- false ideological motives. Plain and simple: when politics is about alogue of civilizations remains mere lip oil, it should be openly stated; when it is about the interests of an ally service if this project is not embedded in (see US policy in the Middle East), it should also be said so openly, an overall peaceful policy of co-existence, and the public should be spared hollow references to the noble prin- including the renunciation of proselytizing and ideological patronizing. In this con- ciples of freedom and democracy. text, I do not understand “proselytizing” 4. In the maintenance of international peace and security, states in a theological, but in a political and ide- should refrain from unilateral use of force and only adopt measures ological sense, similar to how the leading global power has acted so far. What I say of collective security within the framework of the United Nations Or- here applies, of course, to both sides, not ganization. The alternative would be a protracted conflict of the type only to the West. of medieval religious wars, a “war of the worlds,” so to speak, which, By now, the civilizational and cultur- al fault-lines appear everywhere, not only in the age of weapons of mass destruction, may inadvertently take on in European societies, but also in the Arab an apocalyptic dimension.” world – and there they appear with greater sharpness than we could ever have imag- ined. This has become evident, for exam- Dialogue is incompatible with the ethos sion that mutually exclusive explanations ple, in the developments in Egypt the de- – of course, one may also say: pathos – of the world, contradictory doctrines of tails of which I cannot elaborate here, and of missionary work, both on the Islamic salvation, can only preserve their integri- of course in Syria, Iraq and Libya. and the Western secular or Christian side. ty – and, consequently, ensure their sur- In terms of world politics, this means If dialogue is to be more than mere talk, vival and international acceptance – if that all of us – not only the people in the mere conversation, one will have to con- they agree on a policy of peaceful coex- Middle East – will have to face a long pe- sider the rational element of human action istence based on the principle of reciproc- riod of instability. We will also have to – and here specifically not only of individ- ity. In the case of an eschatological doc- recognize that the dream of “splendid iso- ual, but also of collective human action. It trine of salvation (e.g. “Islamic State”) lation” – here, in our Europe, just north of is about the particular “logos” of a civili- this may be mere (survival) tactics. How- the Mediterranean – has come to an end zation or religious worldview, namely its ever, for the global community of nations with the mass migration from the South, systemic structure. As the human being it is better than nothing. It will not guaran- triggered mainly by the interventionist is a zóon lógon échon, it is quite legiti- tee a high-minded dialogue on metaphysi- policies of the West. mate, one might also say rational, to aim cal and ontological principles, but it may In conclusion: Quid nunc? – What at a structural comparison between differ- allow a more or less stable peace. now? For short-term symptom cures it is ent worldviews. That is the only way to I would like to refer here briefly to simply too late. Air strikes are indeed con- understand them, and it is the only way to some historical examples: venient for the West (by the way also a comprehend what we ourselves believe or I said earlier that we are currently faced cowardly approach), but they are mostly propagate. with a crusade-like atmosphere between inefficient, even counterproductive. The The political leaders should actual- Islam and the West. In this connection it damage has already been done. ly be able to understand and appreciate may be of interest – even though the his- Given the chaos caused among others that one’s own worldview cannot entire- torical context was completely different – by the West, and given the popular feeling ly be reduced to the other without some that in the era of the Crusades there were of insecurity and the loss of confidence in spiritual or cultural loss. This means, on singular great personalities who made an the political system in the Middle East as the other hand, that one cannot exclusive- effort to enter into a conversation with the well as in Europe, a strategic reconsider- ly assess the other view with one’s own other side, even though this did not mean ation of politics, and in particular of the standards. The spiritual claim to absolute that they would have been prepared to political relevance of the dialogue of civi- validity of a Weltanschauung must never question their own eschatological or met- lizations, is necessary. This must include be politically exploited. A clear line has aphysical conceptions. Just one example a return to the paradigm – i.e. the funda- to be drawn between the spheres. Accord- of what might be possible across ideo- mental concept – of dialogue in the con- ingly, it should at least be possible to ana- logical borders on the basis of reciproci- temporary system of interstate relations. lyze the now emerging ideological conflict ty and coexistence, and partly also of phi- I refer here to only a few aspects, which situations in a philosophical and rational one should bear in mind: way. One might thus come to the conclu- continued on page 14 No 32/33 31 December 2015 Current Concerns Page 14

”The importance of dialogue …” dalusia, Europe in the subsequent Re- logue” or “alliance” of civilizations can continued from page 13 naissance – developed their respective only mean: worldview in the terminology of Greek 1. To refrain from trying to set the other losophy: Charlemagne – at the turn of the philosophy, especially the metaphysics right, i.e. not to claim moral superior- 8th to the 9th century – was quite capable and ontology of Aristotle, using Greek no- ity, looking down at the other as target of maintaining friendly relations with the tions to work out the conceptual structure of one’s “educational” mission in the Abbasids in Baghdad. of their respective systems. In the Middle name of civilization. One could also refer to an example Ages, European science and philosophy 2. Non-interference, not only in military from the 13th century, with specific phil- were widely under the influence of Ar- but also in ideological terms (including osophical implications: Though this was ab-Islamic thinking, especially in Spain, metaphysical worldviews). This also difficult to understand for many of his that was itself strongly based on classical means to refrain from self-righteous- contemporaries, Frederick II, King of Sic- Greek scholarship. I cannot go into details ness of any kind. ily and Jerusalem, displayed sincere, phil- here about the influence of Islamic think- 3. Civilizational reasoning should have osophically inspired openness towards Is- ers and researchers on some of the great no place in the pursuit of concrete lamic culture and philosophy and even Doctors of the Church. policy objectives. The real, especial- sought the advice of Muslim scholars – This historical reminiscence may ap- ly economic, interests behind politi- and this despite of his participation in the pear somewhat nostalgic – in view of what cal action are to be made transparent. Crusades. In the context of medieval re- happened in later centuries and the situ- That would mean that the global play alpolitik, arrangements between leaders ation we are faced with today; however, for power and influence does not hide on both sides were quite possible, but this such a review may make us aware of what behind false ideological motives. Plain did not mean that one would have tried to could also be possible. and simple: when politics is about oil, proselytize the other. That is, I believe, The objectives of dialogue and a sta- it should be openly stated; when it is even now the decisive factor: one at least ble order of peace cannot be achieved at about the interests of an ally (see US has to make an effort to understand the all if people – as still seems to be the case policy in the Middle East), it should other position and – on this rational basis in global politics – engage in a denial of also be said so openly, and the pub- – to elaborate the principles of peaceful reality and only pay lip service to the for- lic should be spared hollow references coexistence (as we also know them from mulas of tolerance and mutual understand- to the noble principles of freedom and another political constellation in 20th cen- ing, without creating the necessary con- democracy. tury Europe). ditions for their realization. These noble 4. In the maintenance of international For a more distant future we may per- goals will remain empty phrases as long peace and security, states should re- haps hope that both the Islamic and West- as there is no precise political strategy that frain from unilateral use of force and ern civilizations remember their common defines: only adopt measures of collective secu- roots in classical antiquity, namely Greek a) what is to be achieved with these objec- rity within the framework of the Unit- philosophy. Although this is often over- tives, and ed Nations Organization. The alterna- looked, those who received a humanistic b) how they can actually be implemented. tive would be a protracted conflict of education with Latin and ancient Greek This is what the political leaders in the the type of medieval religious wars, will understand my point. Both civiliza- “Alliance of Civilizations” should com- a “war of the worlds,” so to speak, tions in their heyday – Islam in the era of mit themselves to. which, in the age of weapons of mass the Abbasids in Baghdad and later of the Under the prevailing conditions, the destruction, may inadvertently take on Emirate of Cordoba and Granada in An- implementation of an agenda of “dia- an apocalyptic dimension. •

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50 years ago Mobutu Sese Seko revolted in the Congo (part 1) A never-ending Kleptocracy? by Dr Peter Küpfer

November of this year marks the 50th an- niversary of the coup bringing the Congo- lese dictator Mobutu Sese Seko to power. On November 24, 1965 the at that time still young Commander of the Congolese armed forces occupied all the strategical- ly important areas of the State and had the radio proclaim that the Constitution was suspended, the Parliament dissolved and that all the power was concentrat- ed in his hands. With the blessing of the West, the Congo suffered for over 32 dark years in which Mobutu and his corrupt cronies bled the State and the population of the Congolese giant empire.

In November 1965 Mobutu’s violent as- sumption of power put an end to the so- called “Congo turmoil” lasting for 5 years. These events, the long-standing turmoil in the Congo and finally the coup of Mobu- tu, were seen by many Western commen- tators as a proof that the former African colonies were not viable. They forget that the Congo turmoil, its dictators and the rundown of its resources and therefore its people are not done by the Congolese themselves. These are rather the most ob- vious ravages in a history in which the greed of the West plays a key role, just (Graphics Current Concerns RoHo/GWa) like the shameful slave trade hundreds of years ago. In this economical and ge- ed there peaked in a steeper and steeper es of the Congo. On the contrary, exploi- opolitical explosive part of the world, the price rise on the world market. With the tation was pursued even more systemat- Mobutu dictatorship is just an episode, but invention of vulcanization by Dunlop in ically. Additional huge resources of raw a grim one. 1890 and later the development of the au- materials were discovered, including gold tomobile, then the aircraft, the need for and diamonds. In southern Congo, in the Private property of the King raw rubber for the tire production boomed province of Katanga (former Shaba), the The Democratic Republic of the Congo, as tremendously. In contrast to Latin Amer- colonists found a metal causing similar fu- the giant country on the river Congo is of- ica, Congolese rubber was not taken from rore as the rubber: there were and still are ficially named again, has such a large ter- the Hevea tree, but from rubber vines that huge copper deposits. You may imagine ritory that France would comfortably fit quickly died when tapped in excess. That what this meant during the early times of in seven times. However, the population forced people who were “used” to extract electrification of the Western world at the living there is not much bigger than that the crude rubber, to go for longer and beginning of the 20th century. All electric of Germany. Today’s boundaries of the longer marches through the jungle and to cable is actually made out of copper. The huge country were established by former additional hardship. Draconian penalties targeted exploitation of other sought after colonial powers, at least in its broad out- were the order of the day, whipping and resources followed right away, especial- lines, at the Berlin Conference of 1885/86; hacking of hands because of too little pro- ly silver and diamonds in Kasai. The col- not a single African participated in this ductive work or escape attempts. In 1905 onists realized soon that they were sitting conference. The world powers did not re- the Congolese rubber trade lost impor- in their vast colony on riches, for which ally know what to do with the – at that tance, because most of the rubber vines they were envied by the world. Also Ura- time still uncharted – huge forest areas were destroyed (Strizek, p. 39). nium was found in Congo, a metal with at the Big River in the centre of sub-Sa- deposits only in a few places worldwide. haran Africa and its endless savannahs Sought-after commodities The Americans developed their first atom- in the South. So they gave their approval In 1908, Congo became a colony of the Bel- ic bombs with Uranium of Congolese ori- to the idea, to assign the whole area with gian State and remained a colony named gin. Also the atomic bombs of Hiroshima the many white spots on the map as pri- “Belgian Congo” until the year 1960. Al- and Nagasaki were built of and ignited with vate property to Belgian King Leopold II. though forced labour introduced in the Congolese Uranium, with the consequenc- First, he rubbed his eyes, and then his “Free State of Congo” under Leopold was es everybody knows. Nowadays, criminal hands, when besides trading in ivory and abolished, nothing changed with regards tropical timber the caoutchouc extract- to the exploitation of the natural resourc- continued on page 16 No 32/33 31 December 2015 Current Concerns Page 16

”50 years ago Mobutu …” sustainably the defence of freedom, human among the so-called “évolués” (Congolese continued from page 15 rights and democracy on the one hand – es- refined persons) who had been educated in pecially under the condition of the endur- the catholic schools criticism emerged rap- armed gangs, most of them in the pay of ing confrontation with communism, that idly. The dawning nationalistic movement the creepy neighbour of Congo, Rwanda, was at that time still very potent all over was not willing to be fobbed off with an- plunder among other things especially Col- the world – and on the other hand withhold other thirty years dependent on Europe. tan deposits in Eastern Congo and transport those values from a huge mass of people Amongst them the young ardent patriot, it to Kigali. Coltan is indispensable for the who unfortunately had been born at a dis- democrat, brilliant speaker and biting critic functioning of electronic controls anywhere tance of some hundred or thousand kilo- of the Belgian colonialists, Patrice Eméry in this world and for every mobile phone. metres from the western power centres, if Lumumba, – who studied political science Rwanda, in the past a poverty stricken necessary by use of brute force (as in the in Brussels – increasingly made his pres- country exporting only coffee and tea, has Indochina War and the Algerian War). ence felt. While the moderate people joined become a major exporter of Coltan in the Even in Congo, there were political circles Joseph Kasavubu and his Alliance des Ba- meantime. Even today, as during Leopold’s that began to remind Belgium at first mod- kongo “Abako” founded in 1950, the MNC time, the shamelessly and continuously per- erately but later more severely that human (Mouvement national congolais) under Pa- formed exploitation of Congolese resources beings with a dark skin had rights as well. trice Lumumba spoke a fiercer language is a substantial reason that the resource-rich Africans at that time had been excluded and vehemently took a stand for the im- East of the country (North and South Kivu) from higher education in Congo and were mediate independence of the Belgian col- does not come to rest. For years unimagi- not allowed to take charge in the army as ony. After longer hesitation of the Belgian nable atrocities against the civil population officers. Everybody who claimed education government, events followed in rapid suc- are still happening in spite of numerous so- for himself was dependent on the Catholic cession. Finally, it complied with the inde- called peace agreements (whose provisions Church and their schools, which were ex- pendence process and greenlighted free and no one enforces in this world!). Atrocities cellent but did not lead to University gradu- secret provincial elections and general par- either not acknowledged by the internation- ations. In his much-noticed speech in Braz- lamentary elections in 1959. The political al community or treated with a shrug. This zaville in 1958, just opposite the Congolese main exponents Kasavubu and Lumumba is also the reason for the immense streams capital Kinshasa, President General de had been released from prison and had been of internally displaced persons in this part Gaulle triggered the development for the invited due to their high esteem amongst of Africa. The criminal gangs working for independence of the French African colo- the Congolese population to join the pre- Western interests in raw materials can en- nies. The Christian Democratic professor paratory discussion for independence at the rich themselves easier as their targeted ter- Jef van Bilsen had already caused a sensa- Round Table from 20 to 30 January 1960 in ror against the civilian population depopu- tion in December 1955 in Belgium and the Brussels. All of a sudden, Brussels wanted lates entire regions of the country. Congo. Commissioned by the government to proceed fast. According to a confiden- he elaborated a “Thirty-year plan for the tial information by the responsible colonial “Independence” under a bad omen political emancipation of Belgian Africa” minister De Schrijver in autumn 1959, the In the fifties of the 20th century colonial- (which at that time also included Ruanda hidden agenda behind this hurry was “to ism became a political burden also for the and Burundi) which then “came like a real western world. It was not possible to invoke bombshell” (Strizek 1998, p. 77). Though continued on page 17

An indispensable historic monograph regarding Congo pk. Helmut Strizek, born in 1942, stud- lies supported regimes which guaran- ied political science, history and French. teed them a frontline against modern He has been part of the European African Islamism: Laurent Désiré Kabi- Union delegation in Rwanda from 1980- la in Congo, Museveni in Uganda, Kag- 1983 and was in charge of the project amé in Rwanda and Buyoya in Burundi. processing for the countries of Rwan- Counting entirely on imperious mili- da and Burundi, working for the Fed- tary regimes, those with little or no eral Ministry for Economic Cooperation democratic legitimation now and then, and Development (MECD) between 1987 were willingly accepted. A highly prob- and 1989. Strizek lived in Rwanda from lematic decision in the eyes of the au- 1980-1983. He is the author of various thor. In his reliable portrayal, Strizek is books and publications with the focus looking for answers to the question of on the history and the current state of what happened to the many one hun- all countries in the region of the Great dred thousand Rwandan Hutu refu- African Lakes. gees in East Congo, who had been In his above stated monograph driven out of their refugee camps and about the newer history of the Re- later “disappeared” in the jungle dur- public of Congo, Rwanda and Burun- ing the Kabila War in 1997/98. Back in di, he analyses the “new” Africa poli- 1998, Strizek already named those re- cies of the Western World, especially sponsible for yet another genocide, those of the US, in those regions since a genocide which is still a taboo even 1997. After the downfall of the Eastern today. The book is not only highly reli- Helmut Strizek, Kongo/Zaïre- bloc and after Mobutu had been driv- able in its historical sources, it also has Ruanda-Burundi – Stabilität en from power in Kinshasa, the US reo- the advantage of not just showing a rientated their Africa policy. Now that pure national, but a regional perspec- durch erneute Militärherrschaft? communism was no longer the main tive, in which the effective strategy of Studie zur “neuen Ordnung” threat, it changed into Islamic fun- the Western World for that highly vola- in Zentralafrika, Munich/Co- damentalism. In this new option, the tile region is displayed in its whole du- logne/London (Weltforum Ver- Americans as well as their strategic al- biousness. lag) 1998; ISBN 3-8039-0479-X No 32/33 31 December 2015 Current Concerns Page 17

”50 years ago Mobutu …” continued from page 16 be asked for help” in the in the inevitable chaos (Strizek 1998, p. 79; Strizek quotes the trustworthy witness Jef van Bilsen). Jef van Bilsen did not draw the development plan for thirty years without a cause. The major nation of central Africa simply did not have any experts before its independ- ence. The Belgian experts had already left the country at that time and local experts did not exist. It was not until 1956 that the first African was able to successfully com- plete his studies in Belgium. In the year of its independence, the former colony had not more than about ten persons with academ- ic grades outside clergy, amongst them no medic, no engineer and no lawyer. The parliamentary elections in May 1960 led to a victory of Lumumba’s MNC, followed by Kasavubu’s Abako. After some hesitation, the colonial admin- istration accepted this vote and appoint- ed Patrice Eméry Lumumba to be prime minister. The parliament thereafter elect- ed Joseph Kasavubu as president of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Lumum- ba built his new government and made a deserved and modest young man his sec- retary, Mobutu, who later called himself Sese Seko (proud cock) and surrendered Lumumba to his murderers. Patrice Lumumba, the first Prime Minister of Congo, signed the Declaration of Inde- One speech too much pendence of the Congo in Leopoldville on 30 June 1960. To his right Gaston Eyskens, 30 June 1960, Kinshasa: in the festive dec- Belgian prime minister, who signed the declaration on behalf of Belgium, which had orated national palace towering over the administered the Congo for over 70 years. (picture Keystone) Great River, at the festive independence ceremony of the new African state in pres- did not cause any offence. Things changed lines Lumumba also made clear that there is ence of everybody of rank and fame – es- when the usher suddenly also allowed Pa- a certain national self-consciousness in the pecially the monarchist and colonial no- trice Eméry Lumumba to speak. Another new established nation by expressing: “You menclature of Brussels. King Baudouin speech and then even held by such a rebel are allowed to participate in our wealth, but delivered a patronizing speech in which who was regarded as communist, was not only on a level playing field, that we are he stressed the civilizational achievements, according to protocol. The King bleached, going to negotiate as equal partners.” Belgium brought to their African wards especially while hearing what Lumum- Just barely, they managed to prevent during the long time of the colony. That ba had to say in honour of this occasion. Baudouin from a sudden departure. Al- was not entirely propaganda, but most of Widely regarded as a tribune of the plebs, though feelings have cooled down until it. Kasavubu’s discourse was similarly and he addressed his incandescent – in some the formal dinner, many observers agreed parts improvised – speech not to the dig- in one thing: With this speech, which put a nitaries, but to his downtrodden people. stop to Congo’s exploitation, a courageous Kleptocracy Since the national Congolese Radio report- fighter had signed his own death warrant. The term refers to a political regime ed the whole ceremony, he had a respec- Some conservative eyewitness who was which thrives on robbing its own na- tive audience of which many did not for- prejudiced in the ideas of colonialism or tion systematically. Mobutu‘s dictator- get his courageous words until today (see the political structures of power and the ship of more than 30 years is a prime ex- box). Lumumba called things as they were. numerous officials of the different secret ample of this form of dictatorship. The He named the actors responsible for all the services went home convinced: This Lu- mineral resources of the country were grief and injustice, done to his people under mumba must be put away. Many of them hawked at giveaway prices to other countries which in turn guaranteed the the Belgian colonisation since the times of took this not only politically, but literally dictator’s rule. The funds made availa- King Baudouin’s great uncle, Leopold II. and it was carried out promptly. ble in this way were distributed to the Lumumba welcomed Belgium as a part- private (foreign) accounts of the dicta- ner with whom the new republic from that Self-determination – for five days tor’s family and his camarilla and thus day on could deal on equal footing and re- The enemies of an independent and eco- withdrawn from the regular money ciprocal respect, without being in danger nomically autonomous Congo did not cycle. This money was lacking when it to be specially treated. Congo’s independ- grant sufficient time to the government came to investments in the public inter- ence was not in any way a Belgian gift he of Lumumba to realize its ideals. Al- est and those who had generated it in called out to the guests and his audience at ready few days after the ceremonies first the first place by their hard work were systematically deprived of it. the radio all over the whole country, it was “only achieved by combat”. Between the continued on page 18 No 32/33 31 December 2015 Current Concerns Page 18

”50 years ago Mobutu …” tervened, forced Kasavubu to remain the Ongoing fomented unrest continued from page 17 political head of state and placed a Coun- Two and a half years later, on 14 January cil of Commissioners with its own in- 1963, Tshombe had to admit his military unrests/upheavals arose. The garrison at formants over the government as a con- defeat and went to Spain in exile. But only the nearby Thysville mutinied when the trol organ, which took over the affairs of one and a half year later, he was recalled chief commander of the Force Publique state until 31 December 1960. Lumum- to Congo because of Mobutu’s insinuation (National Army), who was still in charge ba sought his luck in one of the few re- and placed into a central position: The for- after the independence, informed the dis- maining loyalists, his former deputy An- mer secessionist, who had fought against appointed soldiers that in future Congo- toine Gizenga, who in turn tried to install the central government under the applause lese soldiers would still not be allowed to an alternative government in Stanley- of revanchist circles for three years, be- become officers. The munity leaped over ville. But Lumumba was betrayed and ar- came prime minister of the Congo! Obvi- to Kinshasa the next day, where remain- rested on his trip to Stanleyville. Mobutu ously, Mobutu wanted to benefit from his ing Belgians were attacked. Lumumba, in let him hand over to Lumumba’s archen- military experience in guerrilla warfare, a hurry, appointed his secretary Mobutu emies in Katanga by his soldiers, know- probably also because of the relationships to be the new army’s chief commander, ing very well that his fate would be sealed in the European mercenary market. This who – in the rank of a major – smoothed there. There, near Elizabethville, the free- was necessary, because further secessions down the riot in a short time. dom fighter was shot dead along with two were already looming. Starting in January On 11 July, not even two weeks after the faithfuls after severe abuse by Katangese 1964, an uprising led by Pierre Mulele, a independence ceremony, the former comrade soldiers under Belgian command, on 17 former comrade of Lumumba took place in in struggle of Lumumba, Moïse Tshombe, January 1961. Today it is proven that the Kwilu (western Congo) and in May 1964 a who was elected as regional president of the Belgian army and the American Intelli- revolt of Gaston Soumialot in the east. Also resource rich Katanga, proclaimed the in- gence service had pulled the strings in this a former companion of Lumumba took part dependence of the Katanga region from the coward political assassination. (Ludo de in these hostilities, a certain Laurent Désiré Congolese central government. This led to Witte “L’Assassinat de Lumumba” Paris Kabila. Over thirty years later, in 1997, Ka- a veritable secession war which lasted until 2000; ISBN 2-84586-006-4). bila with his ADLF-alliance and the battle- 1963. Soon Belgian troops withdrew as a re- So, in a few days the “independent” wise Tutsi troops of the former FPR led a sult of a UN resolution and were replaced Republic of the Congo had become a Blitz campaign covering the whole Congo by. One month later, on 8 August of the same huge building on feet of clay, whose cor- and chased Mobutu out of Kinshasa. But fatal year 1960, Albert Kalonji, also a former ners were set on fire by arsonists on sev- we do not want to anticipate, we are just comrade of Lumumba, who because of the eral places. A government consisting of a in the middle of the so-called Congo tur- latter’s refusal to involve him in his govern- majority of inexperienced ministers was moil in the early days of the young republic ment, had now become his opponent, pro- meant to master several wars of secession existing only on paper. Both revolts were claimed on his behalf the independence of concurrently, to rebuild an economical- defeated by the now powerful Congolese South Kasai which, like Katanga has large ly ruined country from the ground and to national army, enhanced with European mineral resources, including silver, gold and strengthen the awareness that the state is mercenaries, under Mobutu. After these re- diamonds. The crisis led to great tensions in not a dairy cow to be milked, but a joint peated upheavals, the country would have the government that also damaged the fragile venture of all Congolese. All this should be desperately needed some rest. But Kasavu- alliance between Kasavubu and Lumumba. implemented without functioning institu- bu deposed Tshombe, stepped out of line On 5 September 1960, President Kasavubu tions and in absence of a deployable army. at the UN, when the Americans stirred up deposed his Prime Minister Lumumba, who Back then, every observer already knew to prevent the joining the People’s Repub- without further ado declared the President of that this accumulation of problems could lic of China in the UN and tried to join State as deposed. not be accidental. It begant to be appar- the Non-Aligned Movement. This was in- ent who would ultimately benefit from this terpreted as a warning sign for America. Coward murder mess. It was Mobutu who persevered pull- Mobutu now saw the hour for his long- The apparent power vacuum became the ing the strings until the hour for his rise to pursued plan. He conspired with the cru- hour of Mobutu. The head of the army in- power had come. cial military leaders and undertook a coup d’etat on 24 November 1965. It was so well “...our beloved country’s future is now in the hands of its own people” prepared and meticulously carried out, so that the 35 year old reached the goal of his Excerpts of Lumumba’s speech at the cel- satisfy our hunger, to clothe ourselves, to efforts, without a single drop of blood. The ebrations on the Independence of Congo, have decent lodgings or to bring up our eulogies that triggered Mobutu’s coup in Kinshasa, 30 June 1960: children as dearly loved ones. [...] the West point out that the “savior of the “Although this independence of the Congo We have seen our lands seized in the Congo from the threat of communism” is being proclaimed today by agreement name of ostensibly just laws, which gave with Belgium, an amicable country, with recognition only to the right of might. [...] acted with Western acceptance, if not even which we are on equal terms, no Congo- All that, my brothers, brought us untold on western suggestion. The 30 year long lese will ever forget that independence suffering. period of dictatorship was neither criticised was won in struggle, a persevering and in- But we, who were elected by the votes nor disturbed by the West. • spired struggle carried on from day to day, of your representatives, representatives of Source: a struggle, in which we were undaunted by the people, to guide our native land, we, privation or suffering and stinted neither who have suffered in body and soul from Ludo De Witte, L’Assassinat de Lumumba, Paris strength nor blood. the colonial oppression, we tell you that 2000; ISBN 2-84586-006-4 It was filled with tears, fire and blood. henceforth all that is finished with. Helmut Strizek, Congo/Zaire-Rwanda-Burundi We are deeply proud of our struggle, be- The Republic of the Congo has been pro- – stability by renewed military rule? Study on the cause it was just and noble and indispen- claimed and our beloved country’s future is “new order” in Central Africa, Munich/Cologne/ sable in putting an end to the humiliating now in the hands of its own people.” London (World Forum Publishing), 1998; ISBN 3-8039-0479-X bondage forced upon us. [...] Source: Patrice Lumumba, The Truth about a We have experienced forced labour in Monstrous Crime of the Colonialists, Moscow, For- Jean-Jacques Arthur Malu Malu, Le Congo Kin- exchange for pay that did not allow us to eign Languages Publishing House, 1961, pp. 44-47 shasa, Paris (Editions Karthala) 2002, ISBN 2-84586-233-4

continued on page 18 No 32/33 31 December 2015 Current Concerns Page 19

“Understanding the sick person” Towards a medicine of care by Dr med Sabine Vuilleumier-Koch

After all his critical books on medicine in the recent years Giovanni Maio presents “Today this ori- all that is required today, and astonish- “book of encouragement” with his lat- entation on the ingly not only where processes actually est work. As a philosopher and physician natural scienc- are running like in the industry, but also es receives an ad- in areas solely concerning people. Even with extensive clinical experience, it is a ditional boost by the treatment of ill people is increasing- matter of great concern to him to give pa- coupling it with ly following the conceptual standards of tients hope. Furthermore, he wants to en- the economy, re- an industrial production. This is the ac- courage all those who care for people in sulting in a far tual entrance gate for a transvaluation outpatient and inpatient facilities day by reaching orien- of the values of medicine. Therefore, it day to focus on what is relevant and to tation on econo- is important to reflect in depth on the encourage them to maintain their inner Giovanni Maio my. Economy and difference between the production of values and let them not be taken away by (picture ma) natural sciences objects and the treatment of people. economisation and a one-sided technical- are forming such Why is medicine no process of produc- a strong alliance that under the pre- tion? In how far is the industrial think- scientific medicine. For his presentation dominance of these two paradigms, the ing imposed on medicine so insufficient Maio chose an understandable language. entire medicine is changed fundamen- and harmful?“ tally. These changes pass almost unno- From: Giovanni Maio: Den kranken Men- Giovanni Maio recognises that the great- ticed because they change attitudes. schen verstehen. Für eine Medizin der est asset of medical professions is the Maybe even more than external proce- Zuwendung(Understanding the sick per- inner commitment to serve suffering dures it rather concerns the awareness son. Towards a medicine of care). p.13. people. The current system of medicine of medicine, its inner identity. Perform- ISBN: 978-3-451-30687-7 increasingly degrades this intrinsic moti- ing, measuring, checking, certifying – (Translation Current Concerns) vation. Maio wants to stop this degrada- tion by raising the awareness of how val- uable this inner commitment is. Based thise is – in addition to the indispensable fer from symptoms and illnesses that can- on encounters with patients, reports from medical expertise – a basic requirement not just be eradicated with an appropriate medical students and experiences in pub- for success in medical treatment. In the handling.” Especially these people run the lic discussions he presents his reflections second part of the book, Maio develops risk of falling through the grid of a more built on great accuracy and humaneness. ways of coping with illness that are help- economical approach to medicine. Maio In the first part of the book, he takes the ful and valuable for both patients and cli- develops approaches to people with these reader to come quite close to the sick nicians. ailments that are encouraging and liberat- person and this way he enables him to ing both for the patient and for the help- sympathise with a “situation dropped Core qualifications of a physician er. In a “culture of care” the own potential out of normality”. The ability to sympa- In our time, the treatment of the sick per- will be recognized and it can be learned son follows the theoretical demands of how to cope with multiple symptoms in a industrial production more and more, life enabling way. which does not correspond in any way to the reality of a successful treatment. Anthropological preconditions With regard to this erroneous compari- Maio as a doctor, is always taking a po- son between medical treatment and in- sition based on binding anthropological dustrial process, Giovanni Maio response basic requirements: “For man is not an is that medicine is not about following egolocial being, but he is fundamentally operation instructions, but: “The core aligned with the others and can’t do any- qualification of a physician is the skill- thing by himself, out of himself. And it is ful handling of complexity, dealing with with the capacity to make another human uncertainty, the professional manage- being feel that he is not alone in his dis- ment of uncertainties and on the basis tress, that every person has the chance of these qualifications finally the careful to give back what he received from oth- exploration of what is best for the par- ers in many ways – and it is exactly this ticular patient.” Already in the first part chance that medicine provides.” To cope of the book, Giovanni Maio introduces with dementia which can’t be “rendered a concept whose meaning will be more positive” by any means, requires to look apparent later: the concept of dialogue. at the whole human community: “So to In medicine, good decisions can’t emerge challenge dementia can also be an oppor- without dialogue. tunity for a new way to discover the con- cern for vulnerable people as a core cul- “Culture of care” tural achievement of society.” Giovanni Maio chose four major challeng- es of medicine as examples for many oth- No to ethical resignation ers. The treatment of pain, cancer, demen- Giovanni Maio takes a determined position Giovanni Maio. Den kranken Menschen tia and “dealing with the dying” shall refer to assisted suicide which is being increas- verstehen. Verlag Herder GmbH. Freiburg to what is the core of the medical task, im Breisgau 2015. ISBN 978-3-451-30687-7 namely “taking care of people who suf- continued on page 20 No 32/33 31 December 2015 Current Concerns Page 20

”‘Understanding the sick person‘” continued from page 19 “Whether a person suffers from chron- therapeutic practice. At present modern ic pain, whether he or she has cancer or medicine is structured as if it was about ingly propagated today: “Why do we ask a beginning dementia – always the per- the treatment of strong healthy per- primarily about freedom (of choice) in the son is challenged to learn how to deal sons and not of ill persons who are de- with this phenomenon which allows pendent, needy and often falling in de- case of an assisted suicide and not about to discover a new space of creation for spair. Because modern medicine omits the misery which has led to it?” Only to himself or herself and not to feel at the to express an interpersonal connected- ask if somebody has well-considered his mercy of the disease despite of the as- ness with the suffering person which suicide or not is a reductionist approach to sociated restrictions. In the course of can rescue him or her, give him or her a this essentially important subject and at the industrialisation and economisation of new security and stabilization, not only same time an ethical resignation.” People medicine nothing less has got lost but by continuing support but by mobilisa- in need do not primarily wish their death the awareness for the necessity of lend- tion of the inner strengths of the ill per- but other conditions of their lives which ing assistance and care. By this (atti- sons themselves. Devotion stimulates however seem to be inaccessible to them. tude) we convey our appreciation to the strengths, it mobilizes and evokes unex- ill person, and this allows the patient to pected potentials of coping. Therefore it Only if the helper is willing to get involved develop a feeling of wholesome self-es- is simply irresponsible to silently rational- into the sick person’s need, to listen very teem. This is the true ‘agent’ of a medi- ize away exactly this potential. Because carefully, can he develop a way out togeth- cine of devotion. thereby medicine exhausts the breeding er with the suffering patient. For a medicine of devotion – in this ground of its core identity – and this is way we have circumscribed the plea bound to go wrong in the long run.” “Ways of coping” of this book. It is a case for something From: Giovanni Maio: Every single passage of the chapter “Ways which has lost its self-evidence in our “Den kranken Menschen verstehen”. of Coping” entails precious advice for the streamlined health system but which p 206–208 encounter between helper and patient and has to be re-evaluated once again as ISBN: 978-3-451-30687-7 the core of medical, nursing and psycho- (Translation Current Concerns) the conduct in practice: “Learning to ac- cept – the good life as the art of taking steps”, “Confidence – or why sueing for the essential is impossible”, “hope – what lationship. “It is the interpersonal relation The reading of the book opens up new, hope can mean for modern medicine” and which makes the encounter of a person in pleasantly human perspectives with every “to understand the sick (person)”. Giovanni need and a qualified helper to be a sustain- sentence. The helping in the physician- Maio here also questions much that made able relationship of confidence.” And: “If patient relationship is inspired again and its way into hospitals and practices in the we succeed to create an encounter out of gives hope for a return of medicine to course of the last years dictated by econ- the physician-patient consultation in the its true meaning. The book can be most omisation. The relationship of trust must proper sense of a true ‘encounter of togeth- warmly recommended. • not degenerate to become a contractual re- erness’, a space for hope is opened.” No 32/33 31 December 2015 Current Concerns Page 21 Teaching and educating – a school’s task by Dr Bernadette Fontana, special pedagogue and psychologist

In recent years, the task of teachers has necessary, the relevant bodies of youth For me as a teacher, this means devel- been constantly redefined: they should welfare services work together.”[…] oping a committed relationship with San- withdraw from the learning process, So that is our mandate, assigned to the dra and in supplementation to her home be available to children only as coach- teachers by the voters in a plebiscite. I to guide her and show her how to assume es and learning guides, provide learn- now would like to leave these quite dryly responsibility in an age-appropriate way. ing environments, complete observation sounding legal foundations and switch Sandra has now been with us for sheets and prepare educational plans. In into the classroom in order to demon- some time. She has become more re- Curriculum 21, the role of the teacher is strate how I put this mandate into every- laxed and calmed down. She learned to repeatedly described in a similar way. day practice. arrive in time, to be ready at the begin- However, such a way of teaching is in It is almost eight o’clock. My class is ning of the lesson and after the lesson to contradiction to the findings of current not an ordinary class. My students have properly stow away her material. Before research. The following article describes failed in regular schools and need more in- going home, she now mostly looks at the with the aid of examples from everyday tensive care. Therefore, the class is small- task panel, what is to be done, and goes school life, how important the connec- er. But just with such children, it becomes through what she needs for that, packs it tion between teaching and educating in obvious what it takes so that the above- and brings it back again the next day – al- everyday school life is. mentioned educational mission may suc- most each time. Since Sandra is more ca- ceed. pable of doing these things, she is much I have been a teacher for many years now quieter, her nervousness occurs less fre- and I still believe that I have chosen the Guidance – quently. Instead her warm, humorous and best possible job. What I like about it is crutch for troubled children’s psyches spontaneous nature is slowly appearing, the fact, that I can accompany young peo- There is Sandra. She is 11 years old and which is valuable for her and for the class. ple on their way into life, namely in the she quickly becomes excited and hectic. For a long time already she has not need- most comprehensive sense. I cannot only That was so in the regular school as well, ed any drugs. show the children how to gain access to as early as at the beginning of her school the world of knowledge, but I can also term. She could not concentrate, was cha- Befriending with support and accompany them on the way otic and always immediately forgot eve- the requirements of life to become a mature personality. So it is rything. That is why she was examined Let us move on to Diego. He, too, is 11 laid down in the “Volksschulgesetz” (law already in the first class from the KJPD years old. He comes from Latin America. concerning primary and lower secondary (Children and Young People’s Psychi- Although he grew up here, his German is education) of the Canton of Zurich: atric Service), got the diagnosis ADHD very poor, but so is his native language. and received drugs in order to improve However, he has a lovely smile. Therewith “§2/4 Elementary school provides her concentration. Sandra spent a few and with some show of hands he has tried basic knowledge and skills; it leads months in the day school of this service, and still tries to overcome his lack of lan- to an understanding of how things then she came to us. She is able to think are connected. It promotes the re- guage skills. Understandably, at the begin- well and she well understands the sub- spect for one’s fellow human beings ning of his schooltime he was not expect- ject matter. But she forgets and loses and the environment and aims at ed to achieve highly and he was assessed her things again and again and is not ensuring that children develop into as little intelligent. When he came to us, well organized. Therefore, it is clear that independent and socially-integrat- lessons mainly focused on his learning to ed people. School strives to awaken my task with Sandra cannot be to pro- speak better German as quickly as possi- and preserve the joy in learning and vide her with worksheets to be solved, so ble. Lack of language skills is a hindrance the pleasure in achieving. It partic- that she can organise her learning pro- not only in learning the subject matter. It ularly promotes the readiness to as- cess. Here Sandra would lose herself. In- often is a sign that the bridge to his fel- sume responsibility and to perform, stead she needs my structured guidance. low human beings is weak and not config- the ability to judge and to critically This begins already in the morning when ured properly; for our language connects evaluate and the capacity for dia- she comes into the classroom – usually us to our fellow human beings. In Diego’s logue. Teaching takes into account in a stressed way. “Oh I left my pen at case it quickly became clear that he was the individual talents and preferenc- home!” “Homework?” “Oh, we had to very little aware that life also provides re- es of children and creates the basis do something? Well, I have got a little quirements and can be straining some- for their lifelong learning.” problem ...!” But when she has done her times. If he had to learn new words, for homework, she arrives beaming with de- example, he read them once, beamed and The best way to achieve this is to establish light and presents them to me. What can said: “Done!” When we were cleaning our a close, complementary cooperation with one deduce from this little sequence? schoolyard, he leaned on his broom after parents and educators. This, too, is stated Sandra is a girl, as there are many in our a short time, wiped his forehead and said: in the same paragraph of the elementary schools. The mother leaves her a lot of “Oh dear! What a hard work!” Diego had school law, and it is also one of the foun- freedom, which Sandra makes use of, of no idea, what was “normal”. If he had lit- dations of my work. In the second para- course. That way she has already got in tle homework, he usually did not do it and graph of § 2 we read: some difficulties, for example, by a risky declared that he had been too tired. Or he way of using the mobile phone and the solved the problem by making his broth- “§ 2 […] Internet. Sandra is accustomed to organ- er do the computational tasks for him. If ise herself in one way or another, because he succeeded immediately, because he 2 The elementary school complements at home too little guidance is provided to had often practiced, he also comment- the child’s upbringing within the family. her. She now receives this missing sup- School boards, teachers, parents and, if port from me. continued on page 22 No 32/33 31 December 2015 Current Concerns Page 22

”Teaching and educating …” our schools. His example may show more spond. By contrast, she sometimes cried continued from page 21 clearly than others what it takes: guiding softly to herself. Often it was difficult to adults who set him standards, empatheti- imagine what was going on inside her. ed: “That’s easy!” He did not realise that cally and age-appropriately, and reinforce Eventually it became clear that she was this ease resulted from practice. Diego his achievements by their feed-back. very ambitious. Presumably she therefore has to help at home only very little and avoided mistakes, like the plague. But that he spends a lot of time watching TV or From the compulsion to know explanation alone was not enough, many playing games on the playstation, where to the ability to learn children (and adults) do not like mistakes. the success will occur without much ef- My last example is about the development Miranda also wanted to show that she was fort. One could also say that Diego is very of judgment and critical competence as able to do everything on her own; so by spoiled. If he faces demands, he tries to well as of the capacity for dialogue. Even no means she granted the other the tri- avoid them or to pass them on to some- that is listed in the “Volksschukgesetz”. umph that he caught her in a mistake or one else. With him, my work as a teach- Let us take Miranda. She is a quiet girl. that she had to ask for his help. Therefore, er is somewhat different than with San- Already in kindergarten she attracted at- her “speech actually was silver and silence dra. Diego needs guidance in order to tention, because she did not speak with was golden” as the saying is. So Miranda learn what a normal requirement for his anyone. At home, however, she talked had to learn to confront herself with dia- age is. He can keep his lovely smile. But loudly and was often involved in quarrels logue and also to develop a certain critical he should be able to experience the feel- with her sister. That was when she came faculty. On this path she has already taken ing that you are tired and proud after you to us. She had a diagnosis, too; the girl’s a big step. She is on her way of getting in- have worked. Thus he will mature and be behaviour, i.e. speaking only with certain volved with her counterpart and to apply able to expand his horizons. Sometimes it people, is called “elective mutism”. In a to the teachers and classmates. A learning happens that he suddenly comes up with class she does not attract attention. She process, in which the teacher as an educa- intelligent ideas and slowly accomplishes rather is in danger of perishing. However, tor must accompany her with humour and tasks assigned to him with more tenacity. tests and written exercises show that she serenity. His knowledge of German, which he ex- follows the lessons precisely and under- I have described these children as ex- pands and also applies gradually, is a mir- stands the learning material. Of course, amples for many others. The problems that ror of this. This way, Diego will gradual- I also tried to involve her in the class- they have, are perhaps a little more pro- ly develop motivation, as it is described room and called her, for example, when I nounced than those of children who have in the “Volksschulgesetz”. He, too, is an guessed from her eyes that she knew the a normal school career. But in their case it example of a child, as there are many in answer. At the beginning she did not re- just becomes obvious what it means to be a teacher, who sees himself as an educa- tor. The idea is to guide the children care- fully and to correct them when they miss a proper attitude towards learning or to in- People will vote on Curriculum 21 itiate their social interaction. All the chil- dren in our classrooms have their own in- I am delighted that the initiative “Ja zu and more young people are no longer suf- dividual personality. This does not mean einer guten Thurgauer Volksschule ohne ficiently prepared for the realities of work- that every child has to find its own way Lehrplan 21” (“Yes to a good Thurgau ing life, because they no longer master the for himself. Man is a social being, and elementary school without curriculum basics of reading, writing and arithmetic. has survived as a species because he has 21”) has been substantiated. With this, It is not only the fear of apprentice train- teamed up with and connected to others. the orientation and goals of the elementa- ers that the curriculum 21 will worsen this. So even the greatest achievements of man- ry school curriculum are subjected to the Like me, many teachers also support the kind have become possible by coopera- democratic process in the third German- initiative for pedagogical reasons. Many tion and common action. In our elemen- speaking Swiss Canton after Schwyz and of them feared professional disadvantag- tary school we have a model for societal Aargau, and no longer determined only es by signing the initiative. Some came cohabitation. There children of all popula- by the government. During my collecting under pressure on the part of superiors be- tion groups meet, with different strengths signatures, I have been experiencing many cause they critically commented on edu- and weaknesses, often with different cul- stimulating conversations. cation reforms – that, by the way, become tural and religious backgrounds. Especially parents are grateful for the unmovable by the curriculum 21. initiative. Many observe with concern Given the growing number of people’s The pedagogical that increasingly the guided learning rare- initiatives, the already long overdue pub- potential of whole class teaching ly takes place in school classes. By self- lic discussion about the basic thrust of the The task for us teachers is how to form a organized learning arrangements in the elementary school is taking place. In Zu- community of this colorful group of chil- so-called learning environments students rich, the initiative has also been submit- dren. A wonderful opportunity is offered are to develop their competences either ted, and signatures are being collected in by working out the subject matter together alone or in groups often without a teacher the Cantons of Solothurn, Schaffhausen, in the context of asking-developing whole based on various tasks. The parents claim Graubünden and Lucerne. In the Cantons class teaching. However, this method puts that apparently many children were over- of Berne and Zug initiatives are planned. the highest demands on the teacher, too. strained and therefore in need of help in The Canton Appenzell Innerrhoden will He must supervise a group process, under- the parental home. The imparting of the vote on a single initiative at the general stand the individual children in their per- material, thorough practice and diligent assembly in spring 2016. The Parliament sonality and get them involved adequate- work often went too short. in the Canton Baselland submits the cur- ly in the shared learning process. Here is The atmosphere during signature col- riculum 21 directly to the people and in cheeky Michaela, who blurts out immedi- lection showed that in general education the Canton St. Gallen in the first place the ately in response to questions or is offend- cuts are criticized. The ongoing education abandonment of HarmoS will be voted on. ed, if she is not called up. There is silent reforms such as the mixed-age learning resulted in unrest in many classes. More Elsbeth Schaffner, Dussnang continued on page 23 No 32/33 31 December 2015 Current Concerns Page 23

”Teaching and educating …” are asked to tackle a new task indepen- ous development is underway. This is also continued from page 22 dently. They can develop real teamwork true for the use of computers in the class- and individual responsibility. Such teach- room. Again, a very comprehensive new Demir, not taking any risks and prefering ing also matches recent scientific findings. study shows that the frequent use of com- not to answer because he does not want puters in the classroom does not improve to make any mistake. Then Ashwini and Reforms ignore findings the achievements in the areas of reading, Helena are sitting together, two friends, about people’s learning mathematics and science. Rather the op- who prefer to be busy by themselves Not only the study by John Hattie, also posite is the case. So you could save this in class instead of focusing on a specif- many other scientific findings show today money in order to enable teachers again ic topic together with the others. Massi- that the learning success is considerably to practice good teaching in the classroom mo is day-dreaming, thinking of his com- more successful in a personally guided (and then adding exercise options at the puter game that he was given yesterday. and structured classroom teaching than computer). This would build on the well- Sandrine is worried, she has bad marks. in a classroom in which the students have proven and would create a modern school Among them there are Sandra, Diego and to organise themselves with a weekly system with teachers, who see themselves Miranda. They all need a tailor-made sup- schedule and the teacher sees himself as as educators and thus fulfill their profes- port by their teacher in order to be suc- a learning escort or coach who provides sion prescribed by law. • cessful. This does not mean that each of learning environments. The former kind them needs his own programme, and be of teaching has a long tradition in Switzer- For consolidation and further reading: engaged with on his own. By working land and has also led to our good results in Adler, Alfred.Kindererziehung. Frankfurt am out the subject matter together each pupil international comparison. During the past Main, 1997. ISBN-13: 978-3596263110 comes into play. The high-achiever may twenty years unfortunately, our school Adler, Alfred. Individualpsychologie in der Schule: Vorlesungen für Lehrer und Erzie- be drawing cards for the others. But he has been overrun by many reforms, which her, Frankfurt am Main. 1996. ISBN-13: 978- also learns to show consideration and to proclaimed this teaching principle and the 3596261994 engage as an assistant teacher at most. Of role of the teacher as an educator as ob- Alsaker, Françoise D./Flammer, August. Entwick- course, he receives additional demanding solete. But this argumentation is without lungspsychologie in der Adoleszenz. Berne 2011. tasks when working quickly and well. But scientific foundation and negates the cur- ISBN 3-456-83572-8 he remains part of the classroom commu- rent scientific discourse. Also, Curriculum Burger, Alfred. Der Lehrer als Erzieher. Hans Zul- liger und Oskar Spiel. Aktualität und Bedeutung nity. Low-achieving children benefit from 21 is based on outmoded concepts and is ihrer Schulpraxis für die heutige Schulpraxis. Zu- the stimulating learning environment. already outdated before it is being intro- rich 1992. ISBN 3-906989-17-8 They gain insight into thoughts that they duced. With it the educational principle Hattie, John. Visible Learning: A Synthesis of would not have had themselves. They have of self-discovering learning with teach- Over 800 Meta-Analyses Relating to Achievement. the opportunity to understand the learn- ers who provide learning environments London 2009 ing process repeatedly and thereby keep as coaches and escorts is to be introduced Kaiser, Annemarie. Das Gemeinschaftsgefühl – up with the class. Of course, they get extra widely and as a priority. This also applies Entstehung und Bedeutung für die menschliche Entwicklung. Zurich, 1981. ISBN 3 85999 007-1 help by the teacher or other children, but to foreign language teaching at primary Kübler, M., Kammer, R., Schneckenburger, C. they remain part of the classroom commu- school level, which is still expanded, al- (2014). Fremdsprachenunterricht in der Volk- nity. All children and adolescents can de- though many studies have shown for some schule. Ein Überblick über die Argumente und velop their intellectual abilities and their time that this teaching does not have any den Forschungsstand (Expertise). Published by personalities best if they can connect in relevant positive effects on the language “Lehrerinnen und Lehrern Schaffhausen” (LSH) May 2014. Schaffhausen a constructive manner with their fellows, skills of children. By contrast, they lack OECD (2015). Students, Computers and Learning: in this case, with their teachers and class- profound knowledge of German, which Making the Connection. PISA, OECD Publishing. mates. This reflects the nature of man. is required for any apprenticeship or sec- http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/9789264239555-en Therefore everybody profits from such an ondary school. Students, learning a for- ISBN 978-92-64-23954-8 (print). ISBN 978-92- atmosphere in class that is aiming at co- eign language in the upper classes, are 64-23955-5 (PDF) operation, and thus the emotional basis is comparatively not worse because they Winterhoff, Michael. SOS Kinderseele. Munich given if the teacher then instructs the stu- learn the languages ​faster and in a more 2013. ISBN 978-3-570-10172-8 dents for partner or group work or if they concise manner. So again a fatal errone- (Translation Current Concerns) No 32/33 31 December 2015 Current Concerns Page 24

100 years “Christmas Eve” by Hedwig Schär

(picture mt)

Every Christmas, my sister’s godmoth- ures were created, always in the typical and his special field is the milling. His fa- er, resident in Wilderswil in the Bernese style. First, a new character is outlined, vourite is the shepherd with the sheep on Oberland, sent a few figures of the Christ- then a template is created and a model his shoulder. mas Eve crib of the Huggler‘s sculpture produced at the belt saw. Thereupon this All woodcarvers also design regularly in Brienz, in addition to the silverware figure is carved according to the draft. new figures, which are taken into the pro- gift. It started with Mary, Joseph and the duction. Thus, over the years more than Christ Child. Thereafter, the crib expand- Fabricated according 120 different figures for the Christmas Eve ed year after year. The joy and excitement to ancient models crib came into being. Joseph and Mary are were always great. What figure would it The most suitable lime wood for carving available in six different versions: stand- be this year? A shepherd, a sacred king, a comes from local forests. It is purchased ing, kneeling, praying, or riding. One can sheep family, a woman or a child who vis- as a whole trunk, sewn up into smaller also choose between two versions each ited the Jesus Child? I still remember well parts and then air-dried on the site. This of the three kings. This way every crib is the lovely camel of the Three Kings, while way it is stored approximately for three unique. Generally, the figures should be we unwrapped it. It had a red blanket on to five years and every now and then it is selected strictly on the spot, since every its back and a proud facial expression. All restacked, so that the drying takes place figure as well as every facial expression that was carved from wood. continuously. A fortnight prior to process- differs because of the hand carving, al- ing the wood is taken into the house for though it is worked according to the same For one hundred years the crib Christ- acclimatisation. templates. mas Eve has been produced and the fig- Eight models are produced in a one sin- The apprentices’ training takes four ures still seem to be contemporary. In gle operation with the hand-held milling years. It includes human and animal fig- 1915 Hans Huggler-Wyss designed the machine. They are carved by wood cut- ures and ornamentation. The apprentices first Christmas figures. He studied in ters into these beautiful figurines. By this do help with the production in the facto- Munich, where he developed the typical working method the wood is held in the ry. One half of the hundred or so person- Huggler style, the flat cut which indicates carver’s hand and not put in a bench vice. al tools a woodcarver needs are given to the parts of the body. The figures remain Six sculptors, their length of service him by the factory, the rest he has to ac- unsanded after carving. Thus they re- nicely spaced between 3–43 years and two quire himself. A good light is needed at ceive the typical shape. This poses high apprentices are employed by the company. the woodcarver’s workplace as well as requirement on the woodcarver, since All figures may be carved by every space for the many tools and the template each section must fit precisely. Til today, sculptor, but everyone has his special of the workpiece. the figures are hand-carved according to fields and favourites that he likes to carve. Most of the figures are still painted Huggler’s models. With great care the With 43 years of service, Hanspeter Stäh- with wood stain after carving. This work style has been passed down from genera- li is the oldest. During this long period he is performed by Franziska Venrath. She is tion to generation. The role models of his has carved the impressive amount of 95 a designer. The mixing ratios of the col- models were the Swiss character types of 289 pieces. Human figures are his special ours are always the same and are manu- the Bernese Oberland, where the compa- field and his favourite is King Melchior. ny has its seat. Over the years, new fig- Hampi Shield has a three years’ service continued on page 25 No 32/33 31 December 2015 Current Concerns Page 25

”100 years ’Christmas Eve‘” can make eight templates in a single op- 12 cm in height is somewhat smaller and continued from page 24 eration. For the eight pieces the milling the crib Christmas with 22 cm is slightly needs approximately two hours, the carv- larger. The crib Noel is modest, its faces ally recorded in a folder. There are nine ing of a simple figure, 1.5 to 3 hours. are not carved in detail and not painted. basic colours. In addition to red, blue, yel- Large pieces may take two to three days. The crib Candlelight is more modern and low, black and white there are some brown Painting takes 10 to 30 minutes. Since the Navidad is well suited for churches shades. The composed colours are pre- everything is handmade one can calcu- with its 41 cm in size. served in jam jars and reshuffled again ac- late that the figures have also a reasona- Mary, Joseph and the Christ Child may cording to the information from the fold- ble price. The sale takes place mainly in be purchased in a beautiful wooden box. er only when needed. Apart from these Switzerland, but cribs have also been sent Every year after Christmas, the crib is en- requirements a good sense for colours is to the whole world. larged by one or a few characters. needed. The white colour has a varnish, The assortment of the Huggler’s sculp- because otherwise it would not cover the The retail store is located in Brienz, ture also includes Swiss costume charac- timber. Over the years, the colours were in the direct vicinity of the beautiful ters, Alpine processions, animal figurines, purchased from the same supplier with lake in the Bernese Oberland ornaments and sacred sculptures. consistent quality. This company has gone The production, that is the milling ma- At any rate, to take a trip to the Bernese bankrupt now, a new supplier had to be chine, the carving and the painting stu- Oberland on Lake Brienz and the store of searched. The colours must gradually be dio are located approximately 300 me- the Huggler company is worth it or, at a checked now and the mixing ratios con- ters away in the village. However, in pinch take a look at their website www. trolled, so that no loss can occur. the back room of the store there are two huggler-woodcarvings.ch. All carving and colour samples are places for carving, where most of the The traditional Huggler company has clearly arranged and individually stored time a wood carver and an apprentice existed since 1900. That it exists until in cardboard boxes on a huge frame or in work so that customers have the oppor- today, is the result of high quality and drawers. This way they are ready for pro- tunity to watch the production. solid work. duction at any time. The Huggler company produces sever- As one might suspect, the main market al different cribs, the crib Christmas Night is not, foreign tourism, but Switzerland All handicraft with approximately 14 cm in height is the itself. That is because each figure tells The figures are always produced in a oldest and most popular, since it has the about the love for the craft and the careful small series, since the milling machine ideal size for a living room. Palestine with work. •