Foundation and development 1952-1961
On November 25, 1952 the Federal Agency for Homeland Services (renamed the Federal Agency for Civic Education in 1963) was established in order to educate the German people about democratic principles and prevent any moves to re-establish a totalitarian regime.
Growth and progress 1961-1969
In the 1960s, public debate began to focus on ways to deal intellectually with the legacy of the National Socialist regime. In 1963 the recently renamed Federal Agency for Civic Education organised its first study trip to Israel, two years before Germany and Israel would establish diplomatic relations.
Transformation and reorganisation 1969-1981
In the 1970s the bpb underwent a series of structural and conceptual reforms. The Beutelsbach Consensus of 1976 defined three objectives for civic education that remain valid to this day.
Consolidation and technical progress 1981-1989
In response to the emergence of the information society, in 1984 the bpb founded its New Media department and began to use more films in its civic education curricula. It also developed an educational concept for computer games as well as a teletext programme.
Civic education in reunified Germany 1989-1998
Following the peaceful revolution in the autumn of 1989, the bpb began to operate in the GDR and later in the new federal Länder. It aimed to educate both parts of the population about each other's backgrounds, stimulate learning processes, and encourage mutual understanding.
New agendas, new approaches 1999–2011
In 2001 the bpb underwent a comprehensive conceptual and organisational reform. New activities and services were developed that were targeted at new audiences and aimed to encourage children and adolescents, in particular, to engage in political participation.
The bpb at a glance
The German Federal Agency for Civic Education is something very special: It’s a government agency that provides Citizens in Germany with information about all areas of politics - explained in simple terms and without being tainted by party politics.
euro|topics
The euro|topics press review presents debates and topics that matter to citizens across Europe. Euro|topics reflects the great variety of opinions, ideas and emotions on those issues. Whether politics, the economy, society or culture–euro|topics takes a daily look at roughly 300 European media and shares the most important voices in three languages.
Hipharpigland
"Hipharpigland" is a children’s Internet site with a political theme. The name refers to the land of hippos, hares and pigs. The Hipharpiglanders, you see, are all trying to run a democracy together. There is already a government with Chancellor Barbara Broadfoot, Foreign Minister Earnest and Interior Minister Harold. But actually there is not much else that works. So join the fun. A new chapter of the comic is published every month!
