The events to mark the anniversary of the first German National Assembly are intended to be “not just a museum remembrance, not an affirmation of what has happened”.

Rather, it should be about experiencing democracy in practice, says Dominik Herold from the “Netzwerk Paulskirche”, which is responsible for organizing the program.

The less looking into the past than towards the present and future is also expressed in the title of the programme, the main features of which were presented on Monday: "Democracy on the way".

Matthew Trautsch

Coordination report Rhein-Main.

  • Follow I follow

The first National Assembly met in Frankfurt's Paulskirche from May 1848 to May 1849, and in March 1849 the members of parliament passed the Frankfurt Imperial Constitution.

The program for the 175th anniversary, planned by the civil society "Netzwerk-Paulskirche" and subsidized by the city of Frankfurt with a good one million euros, is scheduled for one and a half years: It is scheduled to start in autumn, from May 12th to 17th, 2023 in the " Frankfurt Days of Democracy" will culminate in a "Global Assembly" in March 2024.

The city is providing a total of 3.5 million euros for the anniversary.

Among other things, the ceremony with the Federal President and the offers of the municipal tourism company are to be paid for with this.

Representation in the "Honorable Parliament"

The "Paulskirche Network" is currently planning 30 projects and has gained 40 cooperation partners, including many municipal museums, the Frankfurt Theater, the Normative Orders research association, the Institute for Social Research and the Hessian Foundation for Peace and Conflict Research, as well as civil society actors such as Medico international, Pro Asylum, Pulse of Europe and the association "More than Choices".

The common goal is to understand democracy not only as a form of government, but as a "way of life", says Herold.

Historical and current "cracks" should also be pointed out, starting with the question of representation in the "Honorable Parliament" of the Paulskirche.

The events are to take place throughout the city, for example in the town houses and in a “democracy wagon” that drives through the districts.

In general, the network wants to focus less on classic formats such as lectures and panel discussions, but rather "make democracy a sensual experience".

This should include interactive and artistic activities such as so-called escape bubbles, in which participants can test their political knowledge and in which they can also playfully explore their preconceived political attitudes.

This is intended to show "that it can be fun to get out of your comfort zone," says co-organizer Nicole Deitelhoff, director of the Hessian Foundation for Peace and Conflict Research.

"Postcolonial Perspectives"

In addition, according to Ben Christian from “More than Voting”, debating training, theatre, offers such as “democratic building with children” and scientific debates are planned.

In addition, classic formats of knowledge transfer are also planned, which should not only deal with the revolution of 1848 and the Paulskirchen Parliament, but also, for example, with "postcolonial perspectives" beyond a "hegemonic culture of remembrance".

As Thomas Gebauer from Medico international said, the "Global Assembly", which is to be prepared from autumn onwards, should not invite the usual members of the "conference jet set", but "simple people who live on the grassroots". .

The aim is to show what connects us in a plural world.

Especially in view of conflicts and growing nationalism, it is important to strengthen cosmopolitan togetherness.