Die Universität als Demokratielabor?

During the political and social upheaval of the 1960s and 1970s, the University of Marburg was the scene of numerous protests and confrontations both before and after “1968”. This study focuses on the dynamics of these conflicts, taking into account the reactions of the university administration, politicians, the media, and various interest groups. Lines of conflict within the student body are also explored. Particular attention is paid to the question of how competing ideas about democracy and its threats were constantly renegotiated. This reveals the high degree of polarization and fragmentation that characterized the University of Marburg during the period under investigation.