Militarization of universities and the civil clause movement

dossier

The “Universities for Peace – Yes to the Civil Clause” initiative was founded in May 2011. In it, trade unions, student and academic and peace organizations advocate for civil universities as a place for studies, teaching and research in which meaningful contributions are made to the peaceful solution of the world's problems and conflicts. The increased spread of military research and teaching at universities does not contribute to the well-being of the people. The initiative fights for universities that are exclusively committed to peace in science, research and teaching. This requires a broad discussion about the social responsibility of science. See all information about the nationwide civil clause movement on theHomepage of the “Universities for Peace – Yes to the Civil Clause” initiative   and here about it:

• Attack on Bremen's civil clause: Science Senator wants to remove obligation to peaceful research from higher education law
  “Summer slump or not, the ruling Bremen coalition of SPD, Alliance 90/The Greens and Die Linke has its next conflict nine months before the next general election: As the local newspapers Bremer Nachrichten and Weserkurier first reported on Tuesday, Science Senator Henrike Müller (Greens) wants to delete the so-called civil clause in Bremen's higher education law. The regulation has so far prohibited the state's universities from joint research projects and other collaborations with companies in the armaments and war industry. According to the newspaper, Müller, a member of the Green Party, which was once founded as a peace party, considers the civil clause to be "outdated" and cites, among other reasons, "Russia's aggressive foreign policy and the need for more European sovereignty in defense and armaments policy."
  The civil clause has a long history in Bremen: It has been part of the original profile of the university almost since its founding, was later enshrined in a resolution by the Academic Senate and, in 2015, was incorporated into the Higher Education Act by the state government, which was then supported by the SPD and the Greens, making it binding for all other universities in the state. A measure, one would have thought at the time, that would last. It was not until 2023 that the now ruling state government made up of the SPD, the Greens and the Left wrote quite clearly in the coalition agreement that they would stick to “the civil clause in the Bremen University Act”.
  It should not be concealed: the civil clause that the University of Bremen adopted in 1986 was groundbreaking and has been adopted by several universities in their own regulations over the decades. But the history of attempts by the CDU, which is mostly in opposition in Bremen, to overturn the clause is just as long. (…)
  According to the report in the two local newspapers, Science Senator Müller commissioned the President of the University of Hanover, the lawyer Volker Epping, as an expert to find a justification for the attack on the civil clause. And he delivered: According to his argument, according to Weserkurier, the existing regulation inadmissibly interferes with the constitutional freedom of science. According to Epping, there is “no absolute ban on science serving military purposes” in the Basic Law. Müller, whose party, as part of the Bremen government coalition, rejected the latest CDU push against the civil clause in the spring, now said, according to the local newspapers, that we were "urgently called upon to take a serious look at the report."
  The newspapers themselves - with the same content except for the name - issued cautious but clear warnings in the accompanying commentary. “The question of how much distance science needs from the defense industry in times of difficult security policy deserves a serious debate,” it said. Peace activist Thomas Berking from the “Universities for Peace – Yes to the Civil Clause!” initiative also spoke. He criticized Epping's argument that the civil clause was not compatible with the constitutional right to academic freedom as a “fairy tale.” "If that were the case, the CDU would have sued for it a hundred times already." According to the newspapers, Berking described Müller's attempt as "part of a mental preparation for war that is not possible without the universities" with the aim of "opening up the science sector more to cooperation with the arms industry."…”Article by Burkhard Ilschner in the Junge Welt from August 6th, 2026 , see also:
  • Retained civil clause: no compromises on peace-oriented research and good working conditions
    "The CDU's plans to delete the civil clause from the Bremen Higher Education Act have met with clear criticism from the ver.di union. The civil clause stands for the social responsibility of science and universities. Its abolition would have far-reaching consequences for research, teaching and employees.
    The universities in Bremen are facing enormous challenges. Climate change, social inequality, transformation of the economy and the world of work, digitalization and securing democratic structures are the major future tasks of our time."The civil clause ensures that scientific research and development primarily serve social and civil goals. Deleting the civil clause carries the risk that significant resources will be diverted from these existential future topics into military research areas. This would send the wrong signal to science, society and future generations. We speak out clearly against its abolition," explains Ulrike Schilling, ver.di Health, Social Services, Research and Science.
    There are also significant practical and structural consequences for universities. International cooperation could be strained if scientists from certain countries were excluded from research projects or subjected to security requirements. Many researchers and employees have consciously chosen universities that are committed to peace and social benefit. It is to be expected that employees and young scientists will not be able to reconcile a military orientation with their personal values ​​and conscience.
    HIn addition, there are possible restrictions on interdisciplinary collaboration and the universities' open access strategy. Military research projects are regularly accompanied by confidentiality obligations. This would make the free exchange of scientific knowledge more difficult. At the same time, significant additional administrative and procedural costs would be expected, for example through special procurement rules, additional testing procedures or procurement processes.
    The role of trainees also raises fundamental questions. We consider it unacceptable that young people could actually be involved in military research contexts as part of their training without clear legal protection regulations in place. (…)
    Binding legal regulations are therefore necessary that ensure that participation in military research is voluntary. Employees who refuse to participate for reasons of conscience must not suffer any disadvantages. Terminations, career obstacles or disadvantages in the event of contract extensions must be expressly excluded. Temporary employees in particular must not be put under pressure to make their consent to work on military projects a prerequisite for their future career prospects. (…)
    Ver.di calls for the civil clause in the Bremen Higher Education Act to be preserved. Science must remain committed to peace, social development and the open exchange of knowledge. Where political majorities nevertheless want to take a different direction, the rights of employees must not become a bargaining chip.
    Academic freedom and freedom of conscience belong together. Both have to be defended.”Message from September 22nd, 2026 to the ver.di district of Bremen-Northern Lower Saxony 
  • “Not a bit of peace”: Bremen is once again arguing about the civil clause
    “Bremen's universities should only conduct research for peaceful purposes. But now Science Senator Henrike Müller wants to overturn the civil clause. In doing so, she stirs up an old debate…”Post by Kristian Klooß from August 8, 2026 in buten and within 
• Turning point at TU Dresden: With the third-party funding order for Elbit, the Technical University is ignoring its own “high ethical standards”
  • Armaments research at universities: turning point at the TU Dresden
    “A secret third-party funding order is causing public discussion at the Technical University. An Israeli weapons company has drones examined
    In its basic structure, the Technical University of Dresden is committed to high standards. It is committed to “high ethical standards” and “to shaping a peaceful world” in all areas of action. But a current research assignment raises the question: What does that mean? A professor from the traffic science faculty in Dresden examined a drone motor for the Israeli defense company Elbit Systems. The engine itself is not a weapon, but could be used in a military context. A so-called dual-use project. Actually it should remain secret. But that didn't work. A real dispute has now arisen about drone research. The Rectorate of the TU Dresden filed a complaint for betrayal of secrets and plans to replace the university ethics committee, which had expressed concerns about the project. The student council (Stura), however, is calling for the complaint to be dropped. The Rectorate should publicly comment on the drone project and publish all ongoing research projects with a military or dual-use connection. The case sounds like a local university conflict, but it shows very clearly that something is changing in Germany: (…) The “turning point” is also visible at universities. Military research at universities is gradually becoming normal – and critical voices are coming under pressure. (…) At TU Dresden, a professor from the traffic science faculty was supposed to investigate how the Rotax 914 fossil combustion engine behaves under different environmental conditions. (…) Elbit agreed to pay almost 30,000 euros in third-party funding for the experiment. Comparatively little money in scientific research.According to the Saxon Ministry of Science, the TU Dresden received more than 370 million euros in third-party funding last year. But do defense companies gain influence on universities through third-party funding? More than 70 universities in Germany exclude cooperation with a military connection in order to prevent something like this. They commit themselves to peaceful research with so-called civil clauses. The basic regulations of the TU Dresden do not contain such a clause. However, there is also a review process there that is intended to ensure responsible handling of research projects whose results could be used for military purposes. As part of this, the KVW Ethics Committee deals with relevant applications and weighs up the risks. (…) The debate at TU Dresden continues to gain momentum. Meanwhile, according to information from this newspaper, the research project on the drone engine has been completed. Result: secret.” Article by David Muschenich from June 3, 2026 in the taz online 
  • Research for Elbit: TU Dresden ignores its own ethics vote
    "Dresden students are researching Israeli military drones for the second time. A new website documents similar projects throughout Germany.
    The Rectorate of the Technical University of Dresden has approved a research project with the Israeli defense company Elbit Systems, although the university's internal Commission for Responsibility in Science had previously spoken out almost unanimously against it. (…) The subject is the drive technology of the Hermes 900, an armable drone from Elbit that has also been used in the Gaza Strip for two decades. With a wingspan of around 17 meters, it belongs to the class of high-flying drones with a long range. (…) The Dresden Professorship for Internal Combustion Engines and Propulsion Technology is supposed to investigate why the model's engines weaken at certain altitudes, which leads to unstable flight behavior and crashes. The project has been running since the beginning of 2026, and engine tests on the altitude test stand were planned at the beginning of May. There are now plenty of Elbit drone crashes: in 2019, a Hermes 900 had an accident during a Frontex operation in Crete, and in 2020, a Hermes 900 destined for Switzerland suffered a total loss during a test flight in Israel because airbrakes generated vibrations that caused the tail unit to break off. In 2022, a Philippine Air Force Hermes 900 crashed after communications were lost. Because of similar problems, the Swiss military is not allowed to fly its Hermes 900 drones in general airspace as planned. (…)
    The TU Dresden is not commenting on the research because, according to its own information, its Chancellor Jan Gerken signed a confidentiality agreement with Elbit Systems last October - two years after the start of the Israeli Gaza war and at a time when tens of thousands of Palestinians had already been killed using Elbit drones, among other things. This is exactly what the Commission on Responsibility in Science at the TU Dresden has problematized. (…)What the media in Saxony does not report: This is not the first research contract in which the TU Dresden has worked in a European-funded consortium with an Israeli defense company. From 2015 to 2019, the university was a participant in the Horizon 2020 project Extreme, which dealt with composite materials under extreme dynamic loads. This is a key technology for fuselage and wing structures of large aircraft. The partner in this consortium was Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), a state-owned defense company and manufacturer of the Heron TP, a combat drone of the same class as the Hermes 900. IAI received around 225,790 euros in EU funding from the project, the TU Dresden received 409,375 euros, the total budget was just under 5.3 million euros. The Elbit project follows on from this thematically: back then it was structural materials for drone frames, today it is drive technology. (…)
    Last week, the university policy spokeswoman for the Left parliamentary group in the Bundestag, Nicole Gohlke, criticized the Elbit drone research at the TU Dresden. "While Israel is destroying Gaza and Lebanon, the University of Dresden apparently thinks that participating in these crimes is a good idea," explained Gohlke. "A university that dissolves its own ethics committee because it speaks uncomfortable truths while at the same time optimizing drones for genocide is abandoning all principles." (…) In the same week one leftWebsite for “Academic Complicity” online, which lists similar research with companies, universities or institutes from Israel with funding from the European Commission. Hundreds of current and former cooperation projects across Europe are documented. (…) The database also points to documented connections between Israeli academies, companies and government institutions to human rights violations, war crimes and violations of international law. The creators want to stimulate further research into these collaborations.” Article by Matthias Monroy from June 2, 2026 in New Germany online 
  • See also our dossier:“Shut Elbit Down”: Protests against the branch of the Israeli arms company “Elbit Systems Deutschland” and the dossier:Drones: A real tragedy
• “University in the changing times”: Peace policy resolution of the ver.di operating group at the Free University of Berlin
  “The decisions about war, armament and conscription are made by people who will never be at the front themselves. It is not their children who turn their heads in an emergency, but rather we trainees, wage earners, students and precarious employees. This means that as wage earners we have our own, justified perspective on war and militarization. No war works without consent. That's why we are the decisive force in removing the basis for war.
  As the ver.di operating group at the Free University of Berlin, we reject any form of “war-proofing” our society - whether through the reintroduction of compulsory military service, through recruitment attempts at schools and universities or through an armament policy that justifies cuts in the social, cultural and educational sectors under the guise of security. (…)
  This form of unconditional rearmament exacerbates social inequality. While defense companies are making huge profits and paying out dividends, we can expect meager collective bargaining agreements, job cuts and work intensification. This horrendous development is accompanied by decisions that question the spirit of civilian research and teaching after the experiences of the Second World War. (…)
  We object to the civil orientation of public universities and research institutions being so openly questioned. Never again should they be used for military purposes - that was the conclusion from the history of National Socialism, in which science was all too easily exploited for military purposes.
  We are already observing that fewer funds are flowing into social science and humanities projects and subjects that do not promise any direct benefit for technological upgrades. (…)
  Civil clauses are a necessary instrument to maintain the peaceful orientation of research and teaching at Berlin universities. War should never come from German soil again. As trade unionists, we say no to political initiatives like those of the CDU/CSU and SPDfor example in Hesse and Bavaria try to attack and erode these foundations of our free science. The civil clauses anchored in the university laws in the federal states of Bremen and Thuringia and in approx.70 universities The voluntary commitments to conduct teaching and research solely for civilian purposes, which were won in long conflicts, are an important achievement. They follow the peace requirement in the Basic Law (Art. 1 Para. 2; Art. 26 Para. 1) and create the conditions for civil, cooperative and sustainable solutions to international conflicts and global challenges. The Free University of Berlin has so far lacked such a basic ethical statute.
  Our demands on all political parties and the Berlin government
  No militarization of educational institutions (…)
  Against repression and restrictions on freedom of expression (…)
  Protection for all military refugees (…)
  Our demands to the Presidium of the Free University
  A clear commitment to research for civil purposes (…)
  No cooperation with institutions at home or abroad that promote or conduct military research (…)
  Appeal to the unions
  International networking for peace (…)
  Strengthen counseling services for conscientious objectors…” Resolution of November 6, 2025documented on November 10, 2025 at the Berlin Campaign Against Employer Injustice with the opening credits: “We are publishing this article this way because we want to ensure discussion about it.The publication of the resolution of the general meeting of November 6th, 2025 on our homepage (www.verdi-fu.de) was prohibited and deleted by the state department management (ver.di Berlin-Brandenburg). Board of Directors, ver.di operating group for the Free University“
• Research in times of war. The Verdi operations group at Free University is calling for stronger anti-militarist practices on campus
  “…But the manufacturing chain doesn't just start with production. What is less known is that the military-political change is also affecting universities. At the Free University (FU), the company group of the Verdi service union is dealing with the issue. Recently as part of the critical orientation weeks.
  The political turning point is expressed above all, said a research assistant from the trade union environment, in the fact that the civil clauses at many universities are coming under massive pressure. Civil clauses are voluntary commitments by universities to only conduct research for peaceful purposes. The speaker pointed out that many civil clauses at universities were fought for by student initiatives in the 80s and 90s. (…)
  At the FU, a civil clause could never be enforced despite multiple attempts by the student body. The university refers to this at the request of “nd”. "Against the background of the university's founding history and its self-image, there is a broad, common basic understanding among university members that they are committed to the peaceful use of research results," emphasizes the FU. On the initiative of researchers, a “Dual Use AG” was formed, which took on the challenges in the public “Dual Use” lecture series in the winter semester 2021/2022. In autumn 2023, the working group addressed the problem in a public manner as part of the self-conceived exhibition “Dual Use – Ambivalent Sciences”. The Dual Use label refers to research that can be used for civil and military purposes. It is often difficult to understand which research is used for military purposes. And conversely, it is difficult to predict in advance whether and how research work will be used for military purposes in the future. The Commission for Ethics in Security-Related Research (KEF) suggests that the problem could be present on campus. According to the FU, it was set up in 2021. (…)
  In a resolution passed at the event, the Verdi operating group called for the commission to be upgraded and to be staffed equally with university employees and students. In their resolution, the trade unionists identify a connection between arms research and austerity policies in the education sector. “We are already seeing that fewer funds are flowing into social science and humanities projects and subjects that are of no use for technological upgrades,” complained the Verdi members.”
  Article by Peter Nowak from October 15, 2025 in ND online and before that the invitation:
  • Workshop: University in the “turning point”
    “With its austerity policy, the Berlin Senate is forcing us into an unbearable debate about cuts: education, social affairs, culture - central tasks of a livable city and a democratic society are equally under scrutiny. The protest against this is important and is also supported by us as trade unionists. But while the red pen is being applied to basic public services, spending is bubbling up elsewhere: the police and military are not only exempt from cuts. No, you can expect billions in investments in the coming years.
    The verdi company group of the FU invites all interested members and (current) non-members to get involved and take part in our union positioning on the so-called turning point. The aim is a broader peace policy network. In addition, exchange and information about civil clauses at universities, dual-use research, the increasing political control of research funding and third-party funding, conscientious objection and self-determination. There will be thematic input and space for discussions.”Invitation from September 17, 2025 to the verdi operations group of the FU with information on the topic, including:
  • ver.di Federal Commissions for Higher Education and Research:“Thesis paper: Militarization and research.” Published in June 2025
• Academic freedom as a premise of peace and conflict research. Reasons of state and self-censorship in times of war
  “As in other disciplinary fields, this also applies to German-speaking peace and conflict research: It is easy to lament the threat to academic freedom in distant countries. Contradiction is desirable as long as the attacks on research, teaching and civil society in one's own country from the far right are aimed at the so-called political center. When science itself is involved in defining and controlling the spaces of the (un)sayable, things become complicated – and controversial. Against this background, at the beginning of the year, members of the Peace Research Critical to Rule working group, which was founded in 2015 in the Working Group for Peace and Conflict Research (AFK e.V.), decided to write a statement on the increasing threat to academic freedom in research and teaching in German-speaking countries. (…) The final trigger for the AK's initiative were the two resolutions of the German Bundestag on the subject of anti-Semitism, with the help of which not only politics, the public, culture and civil society, but also the sciences are intended to commit to a problematic and consequential definition of anti-Semitism. The AK Peace Research Critical to Power is not concerned with expressions of solidarity for individual colleagues, which are always necessary. In addition, the main aim is to problematize how the field of peace and conflict research is potentially entangled in the very specific politics of war and its discursive justification, toleration or even support….”IMI position 2025/024 by Claudia Brunner from April 10, 2025 toopinion at the Working Group for Peace and Conflict Research (AFK)
• Frontex made in university. The beginning of the end of the civil clause: research at universities that do not take social responsibility seriously
  “While the Bologna Ministerial Conference in Tirana, Albania in the last few days was about the responsible use of AI in research and teaching, universities have long been involved in the development and research of AI to protect “Fortress Europe” – on the back of human rights and dignity. Universities that are involved in this are failing in their social responsibility and are contributing to a structural problem. Despite documented human rights violations (e.g. through Mare Liberum or Lighthouse Reports) by Frontex – the so-called border protection agency – universities work with this European Union agency and similarly problematic companies. Below are two cases: Case #1 Hannover: iBorderCtrl - In order to secure “Fortress Europe”, the Leibniz University of Hannover is involved in various projects that can either be used by security authorities and the Bundeswehr, or are sometimes even financed by them. These are projects relating to drone research, automated processing of images and videos and support for military security of the EU borders. Precisely in order to ensure the security of Europe's external borders as part of the “iBorderCtrl” project (project period from 2016 to 2019), the LUH has taken it upon itself to clarify “legal and ethical questions”.1. However, the fact that participation in the research and development of projects that can be used militarily and (potentially) against people speaks against the “peaceful” claim of the Leibniz University Hannover does not seem to be a contradiction for those responsible here. (…) Case #2 Darmstadt & Magdeburg: Frontex - In Darmstadt in 2022, the revelation of the university's active participation in Frontex lobby meetings in 2019 and 2020 caused a stir and discussions about the ethical implications. The University of Magdeburg was also involved in the lobby meeting in 2019. In both cases it was the “International Conference on Biometrics for Borders”, as the leaked documents show. (…) How such non-transparent support for an inhumane isolation system is compatible with the principle of internationality and compliance with ethical standards seems questionable. Quote from Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences: “We generally find it welcome when a growing EU agency [here: Frontex] seeks advice from experts from business, science and civil society.” fzs press release, written by Sascha Wellmann, dated June 9, 2024 
• Obligation of schools and universities to cooperate with the Bundeswehr in Bavaria? Right now civil clause and peace building!
  • “Defend the country”: Bavaria wants to support the Bundeswehr by law
    "... Bavaria's state government wants to prevent universities and colleges from banning military use of their research by law. The cabinet has passed a draft for a "law to promote the Bundeswehr in Bavaria" with a "clear ban on a so-called civil clause," said State Chancellor Florian Herrmann (CSU) after the meeting of the Council of Ministers in Munich. This “restriction of research” does not make sense and is not possible. Basically, Bavaria wants to become more attractive as a location for the Bundeswehr and the arms industry, emphasized Herrmann. The law is the first in a German federal state to support the Bundeswehr. The cabinet report states: "Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine and Putin's threats against the West make it clear: Germany needs a strong Bundeswehr again that is capable of defending our country." (…) With civil clauses, some universities in other federal states have committed themselves to ensuring that their research may not be used in the military sector, said Herrmann. Despite appropriate discussions, this has not yet been the case in Bavaria, and it should stay that way. The state government even wants to use the law to stipulate a “cooperation requirement” between universities and the Bundeswehr. If it is necessary “for reasons of national security,” there should even be an obligation to cooperate. The areas of AI, robotics, drones and cyber weapons are cited as examples of in-depth cooperation. (…) The Free State also wants to use the law to make things easier for the Bundeswehr in other areas.State schools should work with youth officers as part of “political education,” said Herrmann. So far, this has worked on a “voluntary basis” and often depends on the individual schools. The Bundeswehr should also be able to introduce itself at career orientation events. At the same time, there should be no mixing of political education and recruitment for military service “in the future.” (…) According to the bill passed by the cabinet, the construction of barracks and other military facilities in the Free State should also be made easier (…) The cabinet report also mentions “the current debate about the reintroduction of compulsory military service”. CSU boss Söder recently called for compulsory military service to be introduced in Germany for at least seven months. (…) However, Bavaria cannot actually achieve too much on its own when it comes to the Bundeswehr. “The federal government is primarily responsible for implementing the turning point in security policy,” says the cabinet report. “Where the states can contribute to strengthening the Bundeswehr and thus protecting Germany under their own responsibility, Bavaria is leading the way.” Contribution by Maximilian Heim and Arne Wilsdort from January 23, 2024 at BR24 online 
  • Especially now civil clause and peace building instead of obligation to cooperate!
    “The planned “Law to Promote the Bundeswehr in Bavaria” provides, among other things, for schools and universities to cooperate with the Bundeswehr. The GEW sharply criticizes the project and reiterates its call for civil clauses and peace building.
    Just a few days after the CSU parliamentary group's retreat, at which Prime Minister Markus Söder announced a “Bavarian Federal Armed Forces Act” for the first time, one was passed on January 23rdCabinet decision framed via corner points. The Bavarian Education and Science Union (GEW) sees the principles of the “Beutelsbach Consensus” as well as the freedom of research and teaching in serious danger due to the planned effects of the law on schools and universities.
    Martina Borgendale, secondary school teacher and chairwoman of the GEW Bavaria, makes it clear: "Uniformed soldiers and the promotion of war and military service have no place in the classroom! The GEW is calling on the state government to cancel corresponding passages in the cooperation agreement instead of further expanding the use of the military in the classroom. Critical education is needed right now in the spirit of peace, international solidarity and democracy. The fact that the Bundeswehr does not even shy away from recruiting minors is a scandal! We stand by it: Never under 18!” Oliver Danner, social worker and spokesman for the Junge GEW Bayern, adds: “It is precisely through measures such as an obligation to cooperate and the access imposed from above on certain professional groups to educational institutions that we see the formation of young people’s opinions and the elementary foundations of political education, for example formulated in the “Beutelsbach Consensus”, at risk. Political education – including in questions of security policy – ​​belongs in the hands of trained pedagogical experts and not in the hands of youth officers.”…”Press release from GEW Bavaria from January 26, 2024 
  • Universities and schools in the service of rearmament: Cabinet in Bavaria approves draft
    “The Bavarian state government is planning to use a new law to give the Bundeswehr extensive access to schools and universities…”Contribution by Ricarda Julia from January 24, 2024 at Class against Class 
• Hesse-wide initiative opposes the planned militarization of universities and calls for “hands off the civil clause!”
  “…the Hesse-wide initiative “Hands off the civil clause!” is firmly directed against the planned attacks by the designated black-red state government on the civil clauses anchored at four Hessian universities! As can be seen from the recently published draft of a joint coalition agreement, in the future there will be increased efforts to remove the voluntary commitments of universities to only conduct research for civil and peaceful purposes. In the future, Hessian university management should be able to count on support directly from Wiesbaden when “reviewing civil clauses”. Here it becomes clear that the last barriers to the civilian university and research landscape in Hesse should obviously be removed, in the sense of the “war capability” of the “turning point”. Drastic interventions in the autonomy of the universities are deliberately accepted, despite the declaration that they want to preserve this, in order to promote an unprecedented militarization of the public universities. "The public university, which has been completely bankrupt and underfunded for many years, and the simultaneous increasing dependence on external third-party donors, forms a dangerous gateway for military actors who are already waiting in front of the university with the billions from the so-called special fund for rearmament! We say: Stop it! Our universities remain civil!", demands the Frankfurt student and spokeswoman for the initiative Ariane Alba Marquez.With a Hesse-wide call, the initiative “Hands off the civil clause!” encourage those forces in the laboratories, seminar rooms and libraries at universities and beyond to set themselves in motion together for the civil clause and to fight for a science and teaching that tries to solve the current global crises in the interest of overall social and sustainable development worldwide…” Press release from the Hesse-wide initiative “Hands off the civil clause” from December 17th, 2023 (via e-mail).Call from the Hessian universities 
  • The “Hands off the Civil Clause” initiative is supported by the State Conference of the Hessian Asten (LAK Hessen), the nationwide association of student organizations (fzs), the Association of Democratic Scientists (BdWi), the Federal Association of the German Peace Society – United War Opponents (DFG-VK) and the nationwide network of civil clause activists “Universities for Peace – Yes to the Civil Clause!”.
• No militarization of our universities! BdWi and fzs contradict Federal Education Minister Stark-Watzinger 
  “The Federal Minister of Education Bettina Stark-Watzinger published an opinion piece in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung today entitled “We must better protect our research from China” <https://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/inland/bettina-stark-watzinger-forschung-besser-vor-china-schuetzen-19116350.html > published. In this she calls for “the strict separation between civil and military research to be questioned”. Scientists should be able to “fulfill their responsibility in the interests of our country,” which is why Stark-Watzinger considers at least a redesign of existing civil clauses to be necessary.
  Carlotta Eklöh, board member of the umbrella organization of student bodies fzs, states: "The Federal Minister of Education has so far done nothing to resolve the contradiction between the Deutschlandticket and the semester tickets. Her house has also failed to draft a comprehensive BAföG structural reform for over a year. We are shocked that the Federal Minister of Education Stark-Watzinger is filling the summer break with such a provocation instead of finally living up to her responsibility for the students."
  The student bodies in Germany unanimously supported civil clauses at the general meeting of the free association of student bodies two weeks ago https://www.fzs.de/2023/08/05/zivilklausel-verteidigen/ > confirmed.
  The Association of Democratic Scientists (BdWi) also considers the Federal Education Minister's demands to be wrong. "The BdWi stands for science that is committed to peace. Science can and must make contributions to a peaceful world. Through scientific exchange and international cooperation, tensions can be reduced and peaceful relationships promoted. After the recently announced plans for massive financial cuts in the area of ​​political education, this shows another element of a dangerous direction in the federal government's education policy." says Steffen Käthner, managing director of the BdWi.Carlotta Eklöh (fzs) and Steffen Käthner (BdWi) emphasize together: “Fortunately, the days in which scientists are committed to the military interests of our country as defined by the government are long gone...” commonPress release from August 21, 2023 from BdWi 
• Bremen University wins in legal dispute over banner critical of military 
  "In the legal dispute over a banner critical of the military, Bremen University prevailed against its General Student Committee (Asta). The Bremen Administrative Court ruled on Friday that the university had rightly banned the hanging of the banner in March 2017. Asta had written "We train to kill - Bremen University" on the banner. The students wanted to protest against their university's cooperation with the Bundeswehr. (Ref.: 2 K 2248/17) The logos of the Bundeswehr and the Bremen University of Applied Sciences were used without permission, the judge said in a statement. The university had the right to demand that banners be hung on its building only with permission. The short reasoning did not address the point that the students had complained about Civil clause in the Bremen University Act that teaching may only serve peaceful purposes. According to the university, this was a purely administrative agreement with no influence on the teaching content. Report in Junge Welt online Extra from June 12, 2020 
• [Demo on July 11th in Düsseldorf] No to the Higher Education Act, get the civil clause!
  “Science for sustainability, peace and democracy – civil clause in NRW and everywhere!
  The demo starts at 11:00 a.m. at the main train station in Düsseldorf, corner of Karlsstr./Friedrich-Ebert-Str. From there we demonstrate on to our state parliament with a stopover at the CDU party headquarters.
  At the state parliament session on July 11th, the black-yellow majority in the NRW state parliament wants to delete the commitment to peace, sustainability and democracy from the NRW higher education law, despite considerable criticism from universities and the public. The NRW state government is not deviating one bit from its plans to change the higher education law so that armaments research is removed from taboos. At the same time, co-determination at universities is to be reduced and students are to be put under pressure to study in a way that is socially compliant rather than critical with compulsory attendance, course of study agreements and threats of compulsory de-registration.  This university law not only harms university members, but also society as a whole!.”Call of the campaign

• [Petition] Science for Sustainability, Peace and Democracy – Preserve the civil clause in NRW! 
  "How can it be ensured that no one has to die of hunger anymore and that solidarity and democratic participation can be fully realized in society? What are the causes of war and violence and what are the prerequisites for equal, peaceful coexistence? How can global armament be stopped, how can civil conflict resolution and international law be strengthened? What economic interests stand in the way of sustainable development, how can natural resources be protected and made productive instead of wasted? The social answer to these questions cannot be delayed; science plays a role in this In this sense, due to the long-term commitment of critical university members, a so-called "civil clause" was included in the NRW Higher Education Act in 2014: "The universities develop their contribution to a sustainable, peaceful and democratic world. They are committed to peaceful goals and fulfill their special responsibility for sustainable development internally and externally. The details of the implementation of this mandate are regulated by the basic regulations." A statutory civil clause means an affirmation by universities and their members that science is aligned with the common good. It also makes the legislature responsible for creating appropriate study and working conditions to realize this mandate. Deleting the civil clause from the NRW Higher Education Act, as the current state government intends, would be forgetting history and a step in the wrong direction. The civil clause must be retained! This is what we stand for….” Petition from the “Civil Clause Preserved” alliance from May 15, 2019 at weAct!

• A suitable neologism: civil security research 
  “This high-tech strategy also includes programs for “civil security research.” It is at least doubtful how "civil" is to be understood here when the goals of the framework program state: "We will expand international research collaborations and help shape the development of solutions to global challenges," and when topics such as combating terrorism, border protection and aviation security are on the agenda. On the grounds of “civil security research,” funding from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (not the Ministry of Defense!) also goes to research projects that are carried out at German universities on behalf of the arms industry. The Ministry of Education and Research paid 13 million euros for it in 2015 and 2016 alone. The funds went to companies such as EADS, Kraus-Maffei-Wegmann, Rheinmetall and ThyssenKrupp. The ministry wooed young scientists in this area with, among other things, a “Civil Security Innovation Forum” in June 2018 in Berlin…" - out ofthe article “War research, civilian camouflage” by Cornelia Mannewitz on July 16, 2018 in New Germany – on the topic of all the civil research being done at German universities (abridged from “Science and Peace”).

• War research at German universities: continues to grow 
  “In 2017, the ministry conducted research for just under 79 million euros, and in 2016 for just over 53 million. “A significant amount of tax money is spent on armaments research,” says Nicole Gohlke, “and I find it extremely questionable that the population and the members of the Bundestag should not know what these millions are being spent on.” The majority of the expenditure goes to institutes of the Fraunhofer Society. The German Aerospace Center is also at the top of the list. However, there are also 24 colleges and universities across Germany that received money from the Ministry of Defense for research in 2018. This emerges from the federal government's response to the Left Party's small questionARD capital studioavailable exclusively. “The Bundeswehr is primarily developing technologies and weapons that have so far only been known from science fiction or James Bond films,” says Gohlke, roughly describing the projects. It’s also about protecting data…" - from theArticle “Millions for military research” by Christoph Prössl on July 10, 2018 in the tagesschau which also mentions: “Other universities commit themselves not to conduct military research with so-called civil clauses. But you still receive money from the Ministry of Defense. Exactly for which projects is only stated in the ministry's classified list...“

• War and Peace: Bremen armaments location, UDT trade fair, two cases in Bremen and Berlin on the topic of university/Bundeswehr cooperation FINITO!

• Karlsruhe Institute of Technology – with a military professorship instead of a civil clause? 
  “In the AStA information from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) on June 12th, the request was addressed to the KIT Executive Board to disclose the military research involvement with the Fraunhofer Institute for Optronics, System Technology and Image Exploitation (IOSB) with locations in Karlsruhe and Ettlingen and published on June 23rd. On June 30th, the KIT response was received by the AStA together with a muzzle, i.e. the prohibition of publication. Afterwards, the muzzle had to be removed on July 24th in a public conversation by KIT President Prof. Holger Hanselka due to a student contribution against the background of public protests. The initiative calls on the KIT President to publish his response to the requested disclosure himself. This is to be expected of the president of one of the largest teaching and research institutions with 26,000 students..." - from theStatement “End the KIT/IOSB defense research cooperation, prevent the KIT/IOSB double appointment” from the initiative against military research at universities on August 2nd, 2017 at Scharf Links documented, which, among other things, also discusses the question of how it can still be claimed today that image analysis is not a military activity. Just like the question of a double professorship for KIT and IOSB, the preparation of which directly violates the civil clause. See also the background material on the initiative against military research:
  • “Civil Clause or Military Research” is a comprehensive, continually expanding documentation about the initiative's activities and the debate about military research, in which developments at KIT play a central role.

• Military cooperation at Berlin universities
  “At the Humboldt University, the Charité is on the list of military collaborations. That shouldn't come as a surprise, after all, it's a tradition at the Charité to get along with any kind of crap. In addition, it is of course particularly easy for a hospital to convince the left-liberal educated middle class that developing new healing methods cannot be a bad thing. What gets missed is that the military's interest is clearly in getting their expensively trained and extensively trained fighters ready for combat use again as quickly as possible and this is of course a primarily military matter...“Post from February 25, 2017 at maqui

• Open letter: Bundeswehr cooperation / termination of teaching in the IFI course at Bremen University of Applied Sciences
  “… I am not available to participate in the regular teaching of a course of study run in cooperation with the Bundeswehr,” writes Rald E. Striebl in an open letter to the rector of the Bremen University of Applied Sciences (not to be confused with the University of Bremen). Streibl worked as a lecturer in the “International Women’s Study Program in Computer Science” for 16 years. This is now to receive a dual variant, for which the university believes it needs the aforementioned Bundeswehr cooperation. Streibl draws the consequences for himself – chapeau! The detailed argumentation from a peace policy perspective can beOpen letter from May 18, 2016  be removed

• Senate of the University of Cologne passes peace clause
  “At its meeting last Wednesday, March 25th, the Senate of the University of Cologne decided that the university should contribute to “sustainability, peace and democracy in the world”. The basis for this was the new higher education law that came into force in October, which sets precisely these standards as scientific goals and thus enables a far-reaching democratization of universities in North Rhine-Westphalia. The movement for peace-creating sciences (civil clause movement) in North Rhine-Westphalia has brought about the fact that the goal of science with social responsibility is now on the agenda - contrary to the commercialization of science that has been increasingly advanced under the black and yellow coalition since 2006. All universities in North Rhine-Westphalia are called upon to revise their basic regulations in this sense...“Press release from the Civil Clause Working Group of the University of Cologne,documented in the new rhenish newspaper from April 1, 2015

• Toothless “civil clauses”
  “If universities are to be prohibited from using their research and teaching for military purposes, implementation is often difficult...“Article by Peer Heinelt, documented by the AG Peace Research (first in the young world on February 19, 2015). From the text: “... The case studies discussed can either be understood as a violation of the "civil clause" anchored in the "Higher Education Future Act" or as a logical interpretation of it in the prevailing sense. The latter has a lot going for it, as the law only speaks of “peaceful goals” to which research and teaching are obliged. The Bundeswehr itself considers itself peaceful; According to former Defense Minister and current Interior Minister Thomas de Maizière (CDU), it is even the “largest peace movement in Germany.” The Tübingen student body had the experience of a “civil clause” being turned into its opposite some time ago: in 2010, the university of the small Swabian town committed itself to exclusively “peaceful purposes”; only a little later she appointed the head of the Munich “Security Conference”, Wolfgang Ischinger, as an honorary professor…“

• “Civil Clause Congress – For a Science and Culture of Peace”, October 24-26, 2014 in Hamburg
  “In October, activists from the Civil Clause Movement (Movement for Civil, Peace-Building Science) will be organizing the 2014 Civil Clause Future Congress “For a Science and Culture of Peace” in Hamburg and you are cordially invited to take part. In view of the worsening global social inequality and the intensified war situation, the responsibility of science to take a side for humane social development is increasing - e.g. through the introduction of civil clauses. We are convinced that a humanity-oriented, scientific approach to the world can contribute significantly to a humane development of the world and we want to take history into our hands in this sense.
  Twenty universities nationwide have already made a commitment to research, teach and work exclusively for civilian purposes. In the last four years alone, thirteen universities have been added due to the educational activities of the student, peace and trade union movements. At the same time, the model of the “entrepreneurial university” and business administration as the current leading science (“everything for the location”) are being questioned everywhere – not only because they are harmful, but also because demands for humane development that are worthy of generalization are increasingly being formed and articulated.All further information can be found on the AK Peace Science website . Participation in the congress is free of charge. SeeProgram, call and supporters 

• “We demand a ban on arms research”
  Left student association launches nationwide anti-militarist campaign at universities in winter semester. A conversation with Daniel Morteza.Interview by Markus Bernhardt in Junge Welt from October 20, 2014

• Militarization of universities and the civil clause movement
  “Universities are increasingly becoming places for the development of new war technology and military research. The arms industry is increasingly influencing research and teaching. In recent years, however, there has been an increasingly intense debate at universities about the use of such processes for armaments research and war science. Various actors are fighting against the connection between science and business and the military. In most cases, the subject and impetus for such debates is the dispute over the introduction of a civil clause into the regulations of universities…”Article by Anne Geschonneck, published in Z. Magazine Marxist Renewal from June 2013, documented at the Peace Council

Basic information:

• Homepage of the “Universities for Peace – Yes to the Civil Clause” initiative
• Homepage of the Working Group for Peace and Conflict Research (AFK)

The postMilitarization of universities and the civil clause movementappeared firstLabourNet Germany.