Exhibiting a democratic society? GeSoLei as a microcosm of the Weimar Republic

• Applicants: Privatdozent Dr. Matthis Krischel; Professorin Dr. Stefanie Michels; Professor Dr. Jürgen Wiener
• Subject Area: History of Science ; Art History ; Modern and Contemporary History
• Term: since 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 536071566

In 1926, the largest exhibition of the Weimar Republic took place in Düsseldorf with 7.5 million visitors on an area of 400,000 square meters: "The Great Exhibition for Health Care, Social Welfare and Physical Exercise" ("Große Ausstellung für Gesundheitspflege, soziale Fürsorge und Leibesübungen"). Already contemporary it was abbreviated with the acronym GeSoLei. The GeSoLei offered numerous presentations on science, industry and art, as well as an extensive entertainment area with attractions, food and drinks. The 'healthy body of the German people' was the main theme of the exhibition. Under the cipher 'health and hygiene', central social and political themes of this first German democracy were negotiated and exhibited. Against this background, the research group examines the GeSoLei as a microcosm of the Weimar Republic with regard to the concepts of democracy negotiated here. In doing so, the research project considers two aspects of democracy: first as a specific constitutional arrangement of a form of government with specific potential for participation by individuals and second as a concept of ordering a society which promises equality, participation, and solidarity.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Co-Investigators: Professor Dr. Heiner Fangerau; Dr. Julius Leonhard; Privatdozent Dr. Friedrich Moll; Dr. Anne Oommen-Halbach