Publications 2023

"Political science operates as an integrated science. However, its sub-disciplines and sub-disciplines are integrated only organizationally, not theoretically; for a commonly recognized political science theory does not yet exist. This state of affairs is considered normal; indeed, it even seems to enable a special interdisciplinary flexibility. Without a theoretical framework, however, political science discourses, cognitive processes, and learning processes are difficult to achieve. Politics is therefore far less well understood scientifically than technical and scientific objects of knowledge—a fatal deficit in a time of existential political challenges (...). In light of this, political science should reflect on its own contribution to global political failure and its potential for innovation: What are the intellectual, and thus also social scientific, backgrounds to global political failure? What role does the existing theoretical deficit play in this, and what can be learned from it?"

Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine has left many perplexed: How could Putin do this? What motivated him to commit this serious violation of international law and crime against humanity? And why do dictators and populists fail to distance themselves from it or even support it? These questions, which initially appear complex, can be clearly analyzed from a civility theory perspective: based on dominant relationship logics and types of interaction.

The developed theory of civility has been accessible since September 2023: Felix Zachau, research associate at Civility gUG, talks about this with the author, Volker von Prittwitz

The German national sports-political disaster at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar in December 2022 ultimately resulted from the DFB's desire to achieve both: 1) to participate in the World Cup with its team, and 2) to publicly express its critical stance toward the host country and the awarding of the World Cup. In doing so, the association overstepped its bounds and appeared to be a nuisance in the collectively accepted World Cup. On the other hand, the association showed itself fearfully undecided about committing to the fundamental principles of sport: strict equality and freedom for all athletes. To learn from this, sport, sports policy, and general politics must be differentiated according to their respective human rights aspects—as the basis for a responsible, decisive sports policy.