Press coverage

Surrogacy - a baby at any price?

Surrogacy is once again at the centre of the political debate in Germany. In a discussion on Phoenix, Irina Herb explains why surrogacy is linked to wealth inequality and unequal access to parenthood, both globally and here in Germany. She reports on the difficult contractual conditions faced by surrogate mothers in Ghana and criticises the fact that parenthood is increasingly understood primarily in genetic terms.

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The Class Politics Behind the Surrogacy Debate

In connection with the Jens Spahn affair, the debate over surrogacy has resurfaced. While ethical questions often take center stage in this discussion, Irina Herb, in an article for Jacobin Magazine, examines the class politics behind the debate: The Jens Spahn affair shows that conservative rules apply only to the poor. But even legalizing surrogacy would not be progressive—it would simply be more policy for the rich.

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Intergenerational Equity and the Pension Debate

The only reform that could truly achieve intergenerational justice would be a universal and unconditional basic income, writes Carsten Herrmann-Pillath in the column “Gastwirtschaft” in the Frankfurter Rundschau. That would be a holistic approach that takes the issue seriously and also considers the social order, rather than focusing solely on the economic aspect, as is the case in the pension debate.

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Tilo Wesche at jung & naiv

As a guest on the well-known talk-show "jung&naiv", Tilo Wesche discusses property and colonialism, current issues surrounding private property, and the rights of nature. His idea: Nature should be granted property rights over itself. 

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What remains of radical urban policy when private property strikes back?

In an interview with Radio F.R.E.I., Silke van Dyk talks about the new municipalism and Barcelona as a “beacon of hope”, discussing the question of what remains of radical urban policy when private property, bureaucracy and the market strike back. It becomes clear that anyone who wants to change a city needs more than just good ideas – namely power, perseverance and people who stick with it.

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“A poor person is someone who wants nothing, knows nothing, and can do nothing”

In an article in the FAZ published on the occasion of the Würzburg conference on Meister Eckhart’s teachings on poverty, Markus Vinzent comments on a recently discovered sermon by the theologian. According to Markus Vinzent, this sermon provides a particularly clear illustration of Eckhart’s radical understanding of poverty. The essence of this understanding, he explains, is to renounce all possessions and desire nothing. 

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Inheritance

Some people inherit nothing, while others inherit entire companies. Inheritances in Germany are distributed unevenly—just like wealth. Silke van Dyk and Reiner Eichenberger discuss whether a higher inheritance tax would lead to greater social equality. Anatol Dutta explains the fundamental principles underlying inheritance law. Hosted by Sarah Zerback. 

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Crisis Management in the Automobile Industry

In a taz article, Stefan Schmalz and Karla Zierold explain the potential impact of the war in Iran on the German automobile industry. As has been the case in recent years, companies may respond to the current situation in an increasingly confrontational manner: to keep profits high, they are closing plants and undermining existing collective bargaining standards.

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Leihmutterschaft in der Kinderwunschökonomie

In an article for the nd, Irina Herb reports on new developments in surrogacy. She not only examines how the surrogacy market currently functions in terms of power dynamics and colonial structures, but also considers what a left-wing critique of it might look like. Such a critique must not overlook the reality of unfulfilled desires to have children and must demonstrate how the capitalist system, on the one hand, depends on childbearing, while on the other hand, it undermines the conditions for it. 

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Stefan Schmalz on the works council elections at Tesla

In a Spiegel article on the campaign for the works council elections at Tesla, Stefan Schmalz, who has been researching labour relations at the Tesla plant since last year, shares his views. He laments the unequal opportunities in the elections and criticises the current functioning of the works council, which he says acts primarily in the interests of management. 

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A socially just energy transition

In an article in 'tagesschau', several scientists criticise the planned changes to the Building Energy Act. Among them is Lisa Vollmer, who advocates for a socially just approach to the heating transition: Heating systems that harm the climate should be replaced as a matter of urgency, the interests of tenants—and not just those of homeowners—must also be taken into account. 

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Making Class

In a lecture on Deutschlandfunk Nova, Isabell Stamm talks about the property elite, often referred to as the super-rich. She explains how the making class of this property elite works. She is not only interested in specific questions, such as how money is invested, but also in how knowledge about these practices is passed on. 

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Silke van Dyk on a solidarity-based old-age provision

What pension provision will look like in the future is a highly political issue. And the topic of property plays an important role in this. However, it is often assumed that pension provision is primarily a demographic issue. Silke van Dyk states clearly in the business magazine Surplus: a uniform employment insurance scheme with a minimum pension is needed, and that is a question of political design. 

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“A socio-ecological transformation is only possible when we focus on property.”

In an interview with Freitag, Hartmut Rosa discusses the relevance of property in the context of ecological transformation.

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"Marx, Machines and the Beginning of the End"

As a guest on Radio F.R.E.I., Carsten Hermann-Pillath discusses Marx's machine fragment, artificial intelligence, and the concept of intellectual property. Does AI pose a challenge to capitalism, and can the market economy function entirely without exploitation?

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Nature as a property subject

In an interview with Deutschlandfunk, Tilo Wesche discusses the idea behind nature's inherent rights and provides current examples. His thesis: if nature is recognised as a property subject and thus has property rights in itself, this would inevitably lead to a sustainable approach to nature.

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Transformation of the automotive industry

When right-wing structures attempt to infiltrate the automotive industry, this is taken seriously—and countermeasures are taken. Steffen Liebig in conversation with nd. 

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Silke van Dyk guest on the Schader Foundation's podcast “In guter Gesellschaft” (In Good Company)

In the Schader Foundation's podcast, Silke van Dyk provides insights into her current research. Among other things, she talks about the concrete consequences of the structural change of property, for example in infrastructures or intellectual property, where in society these consequences become apparent, who is particularly affected, and what political consequences and challenges she sees here.

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A plea for a tax on AI use

In his new guest article for the Frankfurter Rundschau, Carsten Herrmann-Pillath argues for an AI tax on profits from knowledge as a public good. The free use of this knowledge commons is not only a violation of intellectual property rights, but also a matter of justice. The revenue from this new tax would be used to finance public education.

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The schizophrenic ideologies of the global economic order

In the Gastwirtschaft column of the Frankfurter Rundschau newspaper, Carsten Herrmann-Pillath writes about the different economic ideologies of China and the USA, which he describes as schizophrenic: the ideology hardly corresponds to actual practices. In his opinion, Europe must develop a new economic ideology in this situation that is ‘also viable for a new world economic order’.

 

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What happens to German companies when they are in Chinese hands?

In an article in Wirtschaftswoche magazine on the closure of the Allgaier plant in Uhlingen, which is likely linked to the takeover of the company by Chinese investors, Stefan Schmalz is asked about the strategies behind Chinese takeovers of German companies. He emphasises the heterogeneity of these approaches, which range from complete integration into the Chinese parent company to concepts in which the German companies can continue to operate relatively independently. 

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Chinas Green Capitalism

In an article for Neues Deutschland, Philipp Köncke explains how China's state-led energy transition works: state ownership of power generators and pricing and investment policy measures have led to a Chinese ‘solar and wind miracle’. But even this strategy cannot resolve the contradiction between growth and climate protection. 

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Should the shift to renewable energy be controlled by the state or by private entities?

A privately controlled energy transition is often criticised by progressives. For the Surplus magazine, Philipp Köncke takes a look at the counterexample of China: although the state-controlled energy transition in party-state capitalism is viewed rather positively, it is also reaching its limits. 

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In China, property protection is not a first priority

In an interview with the nd, Stefan Schmalz discusses China's role in the current global situation. His argument: China cannot assume a hegemonic position because ‘the guarantee of property rights is crucial for the role of global hegemon,’ and this is not the case in the Chinese party state. 

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Global disorder: Is US hegemony coming to an end?

Stefan Schmalz was a guest on the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation's podcast ‘Weltunordnung’ (World Disorder). In the episode, he discusses the conflict between the US and China and what it means for Germany and the EU. 

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Who owns the world?

In an interview with Radio F.R.E.I., Amelie Stuart talks in detail about issues that concern the Collaborative Research Centre. A conversation about property as a social construct and power structure. 

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AI as an opportunity to combat alienated work?

In a guest article for the Frankfurter Rundschau newspaper, Carsten Herrmann-Pillath puts forward the theory that AI offers the opportunity to escape alienated labour. Were it not for modern trademark protection and intellectual property laws. 

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Inspiration for reflection on the subject of property

The FAZ reviews the anthology ‘Umkämpftes Eigentum’ (Contested Property), published this year by the SFB. According to the FAZ, it contains ‘fascinating material’ and invites readers to reflect on property at a ‘high theoretical level’. 

Read the article here (paywall)

"women’s bodies are not state property"

In an article for analyse&kritik, Irina Herb highlights the worrying situation of pregnant women in the US: the uncertain regulations on abortion lead, for example, to charges being brought in cases of miscarriage. These developments should be a wake-up call for regulations in Germany.

“Who is allowed to own how much?”

In an article in the FAZ on wealth inequality, Isabell Stamm argues that the debate on inheritance tax should take a more fundamental approach and should focus on the issue of property ownership.

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"Economic science has a price, but no value"

In this guest article for the Frankfurter Rundschau newspaper, Carsten Herrmann-Pillath criticises the fact that the economic sciences cost the public too much, even though they are not as independent as they claim to be. 

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For the first time in this country, nature is in the right

On the occasion of a verdict in the diesel scandal, Tilo Wesche speaks out in the taz newspaper about the rights of nature. 

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AI and energy consumption: How technology is becoming a climate problem

In a guest article for the Frankfurter Rundschau newspaper, Carsten Herrmann-Pillath discusses the energy consumption of data processing, which raises questions of ownership and responsibility. 

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Why Germany urgently needs a strong Left Party now

The rise of the BSW shows that many Left Party voters are seeking their political home on the right of centre. Silke van Dyk discusses anti-left hegemony, concerned citizens and a new social foundation in her guest article for Der Spiegel. 

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Universities in financial distress

In an interview with the ver.di Campus Zeitung, Tilman Reitz discusses the financial problems facing German universities and their consequences. 

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Poverty – How living with debt shapes us

Felix Krämer was interviewed by Deutschlandfunk radio on the programme ‘Systemfragen’ about the history of debt in the United States. Referring to the abolition of slavery, he explains how the ownership structures of that time continue to have an impact today.

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"Natural resources are not just an opportunity for economic profit"

Petra Gümplová was interviewed by the Goethe Institute about the use of natural resources: she spoke about the development of the current system of ownership of natural resources, its problems and alternative concepts.

Read the full article here