Abstract

This chapter addresses the nature and structure of contemporary cultural politics in Germany. Cultural politics is a field of political practice rarely analysed by scholars of cultural studies either in Germany or in English-speaking countries. ¹ This is surprising, first, because culture, elite and popular, is gaining media attention relative to economics and politics; second, because of the extensive private sponsorship and support from the public purse that culture receives, not to mention the provision for administrative and policymaker posts throughout Germany at local, subregional, regional, state (Land), and Federal level; and third, because of the increasing cultural activity at all these levels, where individual, small-group, or grassroots initiatives find material support by the official administration and/or private foundations.