Carola Sachse

Science diplomacy has recently been seen as a beacon of hope in tackling the global challenges of international politics. And the Max Planck Society sees itself today as an actor in German science diplomacy. This was not always the case. During the Cold War, despite all efforts to keep its extensive scientific relations separate from the political sphere, the MPG was unable to escape realpolitik. This study explores how the MPG positioned itself in this field, both when it cooperated with the foreign policy of the Federal Republic as well as when it distanced itself from it, and how it combined its roles as a national, European and global science policy actor.

Scientific diplomacy has recently been seen as a beacon of hope in overcoming the global challenges of international politics. At the same time, the interaction of science and diplomacy during the Cold War has become the focus of the history of science. The Max Planck Society pursued its own agenda here. After the criminal involvement of their predecessor, the Kaiser Wilhelm Society, in the Nazi expansion and extermination policy, they were pushed back into the international scientific communities, but not onto the international political stage. The study examines how the MPG positioned itself in the field of international politics, when it cooperated with the Federal Republic's foreign policy, when it distanced itself from it and how it combined its roles as a national, European and global science-political actor.

Focusing on women and their work, this valuable historical study traces industrial social work from its inception through the Nazi period. Author Sachse provides an analysis of policies applied to women workers rather than developed by and for them--as an example of how social policy treats women. This thorough book examines the continuities and discontinuities of industrial social work, and assesses the effect on the industrial welfare system of developments within National Socialism. Within this framework the study examines the role of women in industrial social work and labor relations, the attitudes of various groups toward the proper relations between industry and government, and the well-documented relationship between industrialists and the German Labor Front (DAF), the organization that replaced the outlawed labor unions.

During the first part of the twentieth century, German science led the world. The most important scientific institution in Germany was the Kaiser Wilhelm Society, including institutes devoted to different fields of scientific research. These researchers were not burdened by teaching obligations and enjoyed excellent financial and material support. When the National Socialists came to power in Germany, all of German society, including science, was affected. The picture that previously dominated our understanding of science under National Socialism from the end of the Second World War to the recent past - a picture of leading Nazis ignorant and unappreciative of modern science and of scientists struggling to resist the Nazis - needs to be revised. This book surveys the history of Kaiser Wilhelm Institutes under Hitler, illustrating definitively the cooperation, if not collaboration, between scientists and National Socialists in order to further the goals of autarky, racial hygiene, war, and genocide.

During the first part of the twentieth century, German science led the world. The most important scientific institution in Germany was the Kaiser Wilhelm Society, including institutes devoted to different fields of scientific research. These researchers were not burdened by teaching obligations and enjoyed excellent financial and material support. When the National Socialists came to power in Germany, all of German society, including science, was affected. The picture that previously dominated our understanding of science under National Socialism from the end of the Second World War to the recent past - a picture of leading Nazis ignorant and unappreciative of modern science and of scientists struggling to resist the Nazis - needs to be revised. This book surveys the history of Kaiser Wilhelm Institutes under Hitler, illustrating definitively the cooperation, if not collaboration, between scientists and National Socialists in order to further the goals of autarky, racial hygiene, war, and genocide.