The Inner Life of Politics : Grassroots Activism in West Germany, 1962–1983

Through oral histories of West German activists, this study explores how individuals became and remained politicized. Belinda Davis examines the diverse lived experiences of these activists, challenging conventional portrayals of 'the student movement' and demonstrating the continuing potential of grassroots politics.

What is the nature and timeline of political change and how should its success be assessed? And why do stories matter in grassroots politics? Reading oral histories against the grain of conventional narratives, this history of grassroots activism in West Germany considers these questions in the context of that country's ''68ers.' Drawing together what are often perceived as discrete elements, such as the student and peace movements, Belinda Davis offers new understandings of political transformation, as activists sought to radically transform themselves as well as societal relations, through a politics that was profoundly personal. While recent studies have challenged the achievements of these activists, this book argues that their efforts made some forms of popular democracy mainstream, in the process redefining politics and rethinking the nature of representation, political organization, and notions of what is radical. This work contributes to a fresh take on West German politics and society in this post-fascist state, offering new understandings of where and how change takes place and how to enact it from the bottom up, with significant implications for our present.