Research Results

Abstract

In the discussion so far, I have concluded that the notion of Aktionsbewusstsein, while representing an important dimension of Geschichtsbewusstsein, has not been a subject of prior history didactics research, and I have, therefore, attempted to contribute to the discourse by proposing a concise theory of action consciousness as an integral part of historical consciousness. The purpose of this chapter is to complement the theoretical and conceptual discussion with an empirical proof of concept, specifically focused on the two regimes of twentieth-century Germany. It summarizes the key results of the survey and is structured in three main parts: in the first two sections I will review the results of the empirical study as they relate to the core model assumptions separately for National Socialist Germany (7.1) and for the SED dictatorship (7.2), and in the final section (7.3) I will discuss the results of the survey in regard to the expanded model assumptions, notably the linkages between action consciousness and political action, as well as the perceived current authoritarian trends and the present state of action consciousness.