Latest news
Latest news
Conference: Professions Relevant to Democracy: Between Resistance and Assimilation – Implications for Political Education
26–27 November 2026, Oldenburg – Registration by 2 October 2026
2nd Workshop of the GPJE’s Working Group on ‘Extracurricular Political Education for Young People and Political Education for Adults’ (AJEB)
on 26–27 November 2026 at the Schlaues Haus in Oldenburg
Topic: Professions relevant to democracy: between resistance and assimilation – implications for political education
The 2025 Report on the Protection of the Constitution, published in June 2026, has once again shown that there is a growing potential for extremist threats and that the number of individuals classified as extremists is rising significantly. This primarily concerns the far-right spectrum, but left-wing extremism and Islamism also play a role here.
For several years now, the strategy of ‘metapolitics’ has been playing an increasingly significant role amongst individuals and groups in these spheres. This refers to the attempt to gain social and cultural interpretative authority whilst simultaneously destabilising or infiltrating public authorities, institutions and civil society organisations. This places the system of pluralistic democracy and the culture of an open society under strain. This is particularly acute given the rise in crises, objective threats and manifold subjective concerns, as well as the growth of the AfD, which is now achieving its highest approval ratings in opinion polls.
The conference addresses this complex issue with a focus that has so far been neglected in political education: the aim is to examine the extent to which the trends described above already constitute a current problem in professional fields, institutions and associations, and how these are responding to or preparing for them. And what consequences this has for (out-of-school) political education. For, on the one hand, professional contexts, institutions and associations represent settings for informal political education; on the other hand, those affected are increasingly responding with explicit political education programmes, which, in turn, have so far received little attention, analysis, support or research within the academic discipline of political education.
The conference is designed to facilitate an exchange of information, giving a voice to representatives from various professional fields that are considered particularly relevant to democracy. This exchange is intended to highlight experiences and (counter-)strategies, thereby also serving to mutually strengthen the affected stakeholders. Furthermore, the conference will focus on the extent to which political education can provide programmes that contribute to strengthening democratic cultures within organisations, and on the research perspectives that arise from this
Registration procedure:
Please send an email by 2 October with the subject line ‘AJEB 2026’ to
Please note: Places are limited; participation cannot be guaranteed. However, you will be informed after the registration deadline whether you can take part.
There is no participation fee.
The programme and further information can be found here.
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Conference: Young People, Crises and Social Cohesion – Political Orientations, Perceptions and (Lack of) Knowledge in a Time of Change
9–10 September 2026, Oldenburg – Registration deadline: 12 August 2026
The workshop organised by the Centre for Work and Politics at the University of Bremen (zap) and the Working Group on Political Education/Political Didactics at the University of Oldenburg will take place on 9–10 September 2026 at the University of Oldenburg.
Conference rooms: A05 0-054, 055 and 0-056
Theme: Youth, Crises and Social Cohesion – Political Orientations, Perceptions and (Lack of) Knowledge in Flux
The centre of the conference is young people as actors in a politically volatile global society characterised by ecological, economic and social crises. Polarisation, a loss of trust in institutions and the dissolution of conventional knowledge structures are giving rise to new forms of political positioning, which are increasingly taking shape in digital and informal spaces. Taking these developments as its starting point, the workshop explores the role of political participation, media-mediated knowledge spaces and generational positioning in fostering social cohesion within the context of political education.
The key questions for the event are:
• How do young people develop political orientations amidst multiple crises, and how do they negotiate notions of social cohesion in the process?
• What role do assumptions about self-efficacy, problem awareness and the adoption of different perspectives play in conceptions of social cohesion?
• To what extent can implications for political education be derived from this?
The aim of the conference is to bring together current research and work in this field, to initiate a productive exchange of ideas, and to develop avenues for research, such as joint publication projects, initiatives and potential responses to calls for proposals and third-party funding opportunities.
The programme and further information can be found here.
Registration procedure:
Please send an email with the subject line ‘Social Cohesion’ to
by 7 August 2026
Please note: Places are limited, and participation cannot be guaranteed. However, you will be informed promptly after the registration deadline as to whether you can take part.
Hirn vom Hahn: Podcast with Tonio Oeftering
Podcast: In episode 59 of the series "Hirn gehört - Der Oldenburger Wissensschnack", Prof Dr Tonio Oeftering spoke on the topic of "From education to political man". Click here for the podcast.
Lecture: "Human dignity in times of crisis - inviolable!" 11.05.2026, Smart House
Lecture by Prof. Dr Tonio Oeftering on 11.05.2026 at 19:00, The Smart House Oldenburg
The event will focus on the concept of human dignity. The first question to be asked is what is actually meant by human dignity and whether it is an inherent characteristic of human beings or rather an open-ended social design and action mandate. In addition to these fundamental aspects, current threats to human dignity such as extremism, war, climate change and digitalisation, but also the question of its significance in politics, professional life and everyday life will be addressed.
Critical support and co-design. On the importance of political education for democracy
The current issue of the magazine "Forschung und Lehre: alles was die Wissenschaft bewegt" focuses on democracy. It contains an interview with Prof Dr Oeftering in which he discusses the topic of the issue in greater depth and explains the central importance of political education for democracy. Further information can be found here.
Oeftering, T.: Critical support and co-design. On the importance of civic education for democracy. Interview, in: Forschung & Lehre, H. 8/24, pp. 572-574.
New publication of the evaluation of the Lower Saxony State Centre for Political Education
"In 2016, the Lower Saxony state parliament decided to reestablish the Lower Saxony State Centre for Political Education and at the same time established an evaluation after five years. The Political Education/Political Didactics working group at the University of Oldenburg, headed by Prof Dr Tonio Oeftering, was commissioned with this evaluation. In their final report, Antje Gansewig and Tonio Oeftering present a fundamentally positive assessment, point out opportunities for development, recommend strengthening the state centre and emphasise the importance of further, more in-depth studies to record the effects and achievement of objectives."
Gansewig, A.; Oeftereing, T.: Final report on the scientific evaluation of the Lower Saxony State Centre for Political Education. Available online at https://transfer-politische-bildung.de/transfermaterial/datenbank/#/d224
Academic appointment to the advisory board of the political education centre
In June 2024, Prof. Dr Tonio Oeftering was appointed to the advisory board of the Fachstelle politische Bilung. The Fachstelle is a project of Transfer für Bildung e.V. and is funded by the Federal Agency for Civic Education. It deals with the concrete practice of political education and has set itself the goal of creating a knowledge hub in which knowledge on political education is structured, analysed and linked in a sustainable way. In addition, the knowledge is to be prepared for further specialist debates and as suggestions for practice. Further information can be found here.
75th anniversary of the Basic Law
A guest article by Prof Dr Tonio Oeftering
To mark the 75th anniversary of the proclamation of the German Basic Law, Prof. Dr Tonio Oftering explores the topic of human dignity in times of multiple crises in a guest article. In it, he examines current challenges, particularly within the university context.
You can read the full article here.
Human dignity in times of multiple crises
University sermon by Prof. Dr Tonio Oeftering on 07.04.2024 in the Lamberti Church Oldenburg
On 7 April 2024, Prof. Dr Tonio Oeftering delivered the university sermon in the Lamberti Church in Oldenburg, thus joining an almost ten-year tradition that is a co-operation project between the C.v.O. University of Oldenburg and the city church work. In his sermon, entitled "Human dignity in times of multiple crises", he refers to Article 1, Paragraph 1 of the Basic Law. It states: "Human dignity is inviolable. To respect and protect it is the duty of all state authority." But what about this human dignity? And what can you and I do to respect this dignity in our everyday lives? His sermon deals with these questions.
You can find more information here.
Interview with Prof Dr Tonio Oeftering on the discussion about a possible AfD ban procedure
In an interview with the radio station Radio Nordseewelle, Prof Dr Oeftering comments on the debate surrounding a possible party ban against the AfD. He argues that a party that aims to eliminate the constitutional order must not become part of the political centre. However, a ban is a complex procedure that anti-democratic forces could use to their advantage. In conclusion, he calls on society to take a clear stance and pleads for the strengthening of political education in order to be able to oppose the growing right-wing populism.
You can listen to the full interview below.