„Geistige Orientierung“ der Bertelsmann-Stiftung

Beiträge einer deutschen Denkfabrik zur gesellschaftlichen Konstruktion der Wirklichkeit

Abstract

It will be presented the German Bertelsmann-Foundation which belongs to one of the world-wide biggest media companies. The enterprise-foundation exerts an important influence on several social reform movements in Germany. Doing this, the Bertelsmann-Foundation succeeds in integrating associations, parties and personalities representing nearly the entire range of society. This raises the question, weather the foundation is a political neutral institution as it claims to be. By having a critical look at the foundation-project „intellectual orientation“ the social character of production of ideas by the Bertelsmann-Foundation will be demonstrated. It can be shown, the role of the Bertelsmann-Foundation is that of a mediator, transforming different interests into a new kind of social corporatism.