Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube

Student protests throughout Germany, strikes & occupations

German students are in the streets; they boycotted classes and occupied university classrooms and departments and schools to protest against the situation of education in the country: German universities are in an uproar, and their students are protesting against an unfair educational system, ultra-crowded degree courses and inadequate funding. An alliance that called itself “Educational […]

Left Voice

November 27, 2009
Facebook Twitter Share

German students are in the streets; they boycotted classes and occupied university classrooms and departments and schools to protest against the situation of education in the country: German universities are in an uproar, and their students are protesting against an unfair educational system, ultra-crowded degree courses and inadequate funding. An alliance that called itself “Educational Strike 2009” called for mobilizations seeking changes in the degree courses for the Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees introduced ten years ago in the European Union, in accordance with the so-called “Bologna Reform,” with the aim of harmonizing the structure of tertiary and university studies in the European Union. This front [i.e., of students on strike] is led by the student organizations of the party “Die Linke” that seeks only the improvement or reorganization of the educational sector, although for most participants in the strike there is an obvious connection between, on the one hand, the economic crisis and bailing out businessmen and, on the other hand, the poverty of the educational system they are experiencing. However, since a wave of protests in June, a spirit of struggle against the poverty of education has been maintained, and, motivated by the seizure in the University of Vienna, now in 30 universities and some high schools, dean’s offices, classrooms, and departments have been symbolically occupied. The movement is spreading, but has only a radicalized minority, and its demands have not been gone beyond the merely educational terrain. The students have experienced the strength of unity of action, as in this week’s demonstrations in more than 50 German cities, but have also gained the experience that, despite their efforts, they did not get anything. Now there are political discussions in the universities, institutes and workplaces, to analyze how the movement can advance and how they will be able to win the demands around a free education without fees. Together with the other revolutionary organizations, we are raising the need for self-defense against the attacks of the bourgeoisie, through worker-student unity and by fighting not only for toppling the Bologna Plan, but also for constructing a perspective that allows us the full democratization of the university and to struggle so that the university will no longer serve the interests of the bourgeoisie.

Facebook Twitter Share

Left Voice

Militant journalism, revolutionary politics.

Archive

The Unknown Paths of the Late Marx

An interview with Marcello Musto about the last decade of Marx's life.

Marcello Musto

February 27, 2022

The Critical Left in Cuba

Frank García Hernández discusses the political and economic situation in Cuba and the path out of the current crisis.

Frank García Hernández

February 27, 2022

Nancy Fraser and Counterhegemony

A presentation from the Fourth International Marxist Feminist Conference.

Josefina L. Martínez

February 27, 2022

Who is Anasse Kazib?

Meet the Trotskyist railway worker running for president of France.

Left Voice

February 27, 2022

MOST RECENT

The Deadliest Year for U.S.-Mexico Border Crossings Occurred during Biden’s Administration

The humanitarian crisis at the border was created by capitalism. Voting for a lesser evil won’t save the Latin American working class; it will take international, political and strategic solidarity across borders to build a combative immigrants’ rights movement.

Paul Ginestá

September 28, 2023

The Big Three Are Using Layoffs to Punish the UAW and Undermine the Strike

The Big Three are retaliating against the UAW by laying off thousands of its members at plants across the country. Defeating these attacks will require the self organization and mobilization of all the workers.

James Dennis Hoff

September 28, 2023
President Biden visits striking UAW workers in Michigan.

Biden’s Picket Line Visit Doesn’t Mean He Is On Our Side

President Biden’s visit to the UAW picket line shows the strength of the strike — and why it should remain independent from him and the Democrats.

Tatiana Cozzarelli

September 27, 2023

Toward a Revolutionary Socialist Network

In this article Warren Montag and Joseph Serrano respond to our call for a network for a working-class party for socialism. 

Warren Montag

September 27, 2023