The commission of inquiry at the TU Darmstadt speaks of a "repeated offense": Once again, the sociologist Cornelia Koppetsch is threatened with legal consequences for plagiarism.

After the commission presented its final report on Koppetsch's 2020 book "Right-Wing Populism as Protest", university president Tanja Brühl wants to initiate further disciplinary proceedings against the professor.

Sasha Zoske

Sheet maker in the Rhein-Main-Zeitung.

  • Follow I follow

According to a statement from the university, the investigative committee classified 25 of 28 problematic passages in the book as plagiarism or violations of good scientific practice.

In the opinion of the examiners, even half that number would have exceeded the “minor limit”.

Koppetsch's book has not been fully examined;

it is quite possible that other violations would have been uncovered.

It is true that Koppetsch's work on right-wing populism is not a qualification, but the publication of an active scientist who is active in various text genres and also as a journalist.

However, that is no reason to deviate from the rules for good scientific practice, especially when adopting text passages and correct citation.

Of the 25 offending passages, five are to be rated as "distinctive text transfers".

In addition, there were cases of concealment and "pawn sacrifice" evidence to cover up further plagiarism.

"A consistently failed way of working"

Overall, what the first commission of inquiry in the Koppetsch case described as “a consistently failed way of working” by the researcher is still evident.

It couldn't be an accident.

Rather, Koppetsch shows "a certain routine" in increasing the impression of the originality of her own writings at the expense of others - and the state of research.

The fact that she not only trivialized the violations in dealing with other people's texts as technical deficiencies not only during the first plagiarism procedure, but also in the afterword of her book, shows an "in this respect solidified (incorrect) assessment".

At the beginning of the year it became known that the TU had imposed a disciplinary measure against Koppetsch after a commission of inquiry had complained about a total of 111 passages in two monographs and four articles.

What the punishment consisted of was not disclosed.

According to the Hessian Disciplinary Act, the sanctions range from a reprimand to a fine and a reduction in salary or pension to removal from the civil service.

It is unclear when the second trial against Koppetsch can be expected to be completed.

"We take the time we need," said the university spokesman.

No comment was available from Koppetsch on Monday.

She told Der Spiegel magazine on Sunday that she had only been aware of the allegations for a few days.