Germany is a powerful exporter in various economic sectors and a large industrial power with global significance, but it is also a global leader with its social welfare system called the “Social Market Economy.” How did Germany gain this power after World War II? How do capitalism and social welfare fit together? What are the pros and cons of the “Social Market Economy?” What kinds of reforms are debated in Germany, today? Come join this course and we will answer these questions!
max. 18 participants
Participants will receive 5 ECTS credit points and a certificate if they attend regularly (at least 80% attendance) and participate actively. Additionally, six weeks after the end of the course a Transcript of Records is issued by Humboldt-Universität.
Germany is Europe’s largest economy and it’s industrial powerhouse – selling cars like Mercedes-Benz, BMW and VW and chemical products like “aspirin” to the world. The quick recovering of the German economy after World War II still appears as an “Economic Miracle”.
This course will air the secrets of this success by exploring the sophisticated German system – the “Social Market Economy”: How is efficient capitalist order combined with a huge welfare state? How are conflicts smoothed by incorporating the unions into “Social Partnership”? You will be surprised how modern efficient capitalism and medieval traditions are merged into “Social Market Economy”.
The course will explore the German economic system by lectures, readings, facility visits to industrial plants (e.g. BMW), excursions to the Museum of History, the governmental district and to innovative projects (e.g. cooperatives). Furthermore we will compare the German system with your country to find solutions for a better capitalism.
Academic lessons
The courses are grouped into different time tracks.Your course will take place in "Track C".
Cultural activitiesHUWISU offers a fine selection of interesting extra-curricular activities and aims to give all participants an unforgettable stay in Berlin. Your program includes excursions, sport activities and social gatherings providing you the opportunity to get to know the city, the university and to meet students from all parts of the world. The costs for these offers are included in the course fees.
Activities and tours we offer regularly: Federal Chancellery, German Parliament, House of Representatives, Topography of Terror, Political Archive, Museum Island, Kreuzberg Tour, Daytrip to Potsdam, Exhibitions…
Advanced undergraduate students of business and economics, politics, history, social sciences and students with an academic background that qualifies them to participate in the course.
This course is taught in English, including readings in English. For the understanding of the texts and the discussions in class a language level B2 (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) is required.
Participating students need to be at least 18 years old.
Prof. Dr. Jochen Hille, born 1972, is a political scientist and professor for social work at iba University of Cooperative Education in Hamburg. His main interests are welfare studies (mainly health and labor market policies), European Integration and the construction of national identity. His regional focus lies on Germany and Norway. He studied and carried out research at Freie Universität Berlin, Philipps University Marburg, Universities of Bergen and Oslo (Norway), ETH Zurich and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin.
Beside the scientific work he is professionally working as a consultant for social policies and as a project manager/social worker in diverse governmental labor market programs. He gained a wide range of teaching skills in governmental programs, in civic education, public schools and by teaching high ranked governmental professionals.
In academia he regularly teaches political sciences and economics on the welfare state at „Berlin School of Economics“, the „University of Cooperative Education Plauen“ and the „University of Applied Sciences for Media, Communication and Management“ and occasionally at Best-Sabel University, HTW and Business School Berlin.
In the HUWISU program he has been teaching since 2013 the courses on:
The Berlin WallNazi-Germany – Rise and FallGerman: Social Market Economy – a better Capitalism?
Stefka Wiese is a social scientist and urban planner. Her main interests are economic sociology (with a focus on socio-ecological transition and comparative capitalism) and transition processes within urban systems and regions. Her regional focus lies on Germany and Europe, including the transition in Eastern Europe. She studied at Technical University Berlin and Humboldt University Berlin. Beside her scientific work she is professionally working as a consultant in the field of ecological transition of economic and urban systems.
She regularly teaches in the fields of political sciences and economics at Humboldt University and at International School of Management Berlin.
