Economic Democracy History Walk

The Economic Democracy History Walk is a method with which people can learn about and reflect on important historical events and stages on the topic of economic democracy (so far only available in German). The basis for the method is a timeline (see image below), which categorises various events according to four stages and provides various sources and materials on these.

The first stage covers developments from around the 18th century to the beginning of the 20th century around the emergence of the co-operative, trade union and workers' movement and the founding of the Paris Commune. Stage two deals, among other things, with the reddish colour movement after the First World War, the ‘Socialist Calculation Debate’ and the debate in the 1920s about economic democracy in the trade unions. The third stage takes up events after the Second World War, such as debates on socialisation, the passing of co-determination laws in Germany and developments in the ‘Prague Spring’. The fourth stage expands the previously Eurocentric view to include a more global perspective by addressing, among other things, the Zapatista revolution in Mexico, the emergence of reclaimed worker-owned enterprises (RBAs) in South America and the founding of Rojava in North and East Syria.

The selection of stages and events does not form a coherent and, above all, complete picture of the history of economic democratic ideas, debates and practices. Rather, in our view, they form important points of reference and highlights that should facilitate and promote an understanding of today's debates on economic democracy.

Click on the link for the relevant stage on the timeline below to access further sources and materials. Have fun browsing!

If you have any feedback or questions, please write to us.