Hannah Arendt Institute for the Research on Totalitarianism

The Hannah Arendt Institute for Research on Totalitarianism ( HAIT ) is an affiliated institute of the Technical University of Dresden, which is devoted to the comparative research dictatorship. A particular focus is on the systematic study of communism and Nazism.

History

Immediately after the German reunification took the Saxon State Parliament at the instigation of the leading protagonists of the civil rights movement in the former GDR, the decision to establish an Institute for the Study of Totalitarian structures and their impact on people and society. Once the project the HAIT could begin its work in 1993. The name is a reference to the German - American philosopher and political scientist Hannah Arendt, who has had a lasting influence her work " The Origins of Totalitarianism " (1951), the Research on Totalitarianism.

Until his death in 1995, the HAIT was led by Alexander Fischer. To his successor in 1997, Klaus -Dietmar Henke was appointed, who was to office in 2001. In 2003 Gerhard Besier took over the management of the HAIT. After a vote of no confidence of employees and public criticism, his contract was not renewed in 2008. Since autumn 2009, the Institute of Günther Heydemann is performed. His deputies are Uwe Backes and Clemens Vollnhals. In addition, the HAIT employs more totalitarianism researchers such as Lothar Fritze, Steffen Kailitz or Mike Schmeitzner.

Change of course in 2011

Heydemann announced for the year 2011, in the future, the Institute will conduct research more about National Socialism and correspondingly less on the GDR history: The GDR is better researched than the old FRG. It is necessary to draw conclusions. ... ( With respect to the NS there ) academic deficits. Also the comparison between two totalitarian societies to be pulled more. The CDU politician and former East German civil Arnold Vaatz rejected this reorientation and hinted, public funds could be deleted. Heydemann protested against Vaatz ' allegations. He said the HAIT have traditional focus, about 80 percent done his research with a view of the GDR. It corresponds to ... the historical fact that the second German dictatorship emerged from the first. We need to examine the connections ... We want to investigate the how another could be from a dictatorship.