Sites of Social Struggle in the Ruhr (Germany)

In the face of multiple crises today, feelings of political apathy and powerlessness, as well as worrying levels of acceptance for far-right politics, the project asks: How can we create meaningful memorial sites for the intangible heritage of social struggles in the region? Enabling the search for traces of this vibrant past, the project aims to identify 20-25 historical places around the whole area of the Ruhr that link to historical struggles as well as bear relevance for contemporary political questions. The sites can be accessed via the public space as well as by digital means to communicate the history to a wider public. 

The project is a joined effort of the Institut für Soziale Bewegungen (ISB, Institute for Social Movements) of Ruhr University Bochum, the Regionalverband Ruhr (RVR, Regional Assocaition Ruhr) as well as the Hans-Böckler-Stiftung (Hans-Böckler foundation of the German federation of trade unions). It is a direct result of the ‘Commission on Cultures of Remembrance of Social Democracy’ that recommended strengthening the memory of trade unions and social struggles through regional projects. Against the backdrop of change in the region and a changing world of work, the question arises as to the relevance and actualization of these historical experiences. 

The project is intervening into an existing memorial culture for the industrial past in the Ruhr which can be accessed via the ‘Route Industriekultur’ (Route of Industrial Heritage). Yet, while this ‘self-musealization’ has proven successful for conserving the built heritage of the industrial age and fostering tourism into the region, it hardly addresses the struggles for civil, political, and social rights and for workplace and social participation. Beyond the touristic use, our project aspires to be attractive for a young generation as well as be meaningful to those who themselves relate to these memories, for example former workers of these industries and unionists.

The selection of individual sites reflects the significance of the workers' movement for welfare-state developments such as collective bargaining agreements, co-determination in workplaces and corporations, strikes, union formations and demonstrations, or debates within movements and ‘paths not taken’, such as those around socialization. Beside these ‘classic’ labor movement topics, the sites highlight more marginalized perspectives/ struggles with even less visibility such as women's struggles for gender equality (in the workplace) or the self-organization of migrants or the participation of young people within political struggles. That also implies a critical assessment of trade unions’ and social movements’ pasts, discussing exclusions and selective forms of solidarity within social movements and from social achievements. Besides, the project establishes a link to various current socio-political issues, such as environmental justice or the right to housing. While historical struggles are specific to their time, the project emphasizes that political and social questions often remain strikingly similar.

Visualizing these struggles faces the great challenge that they have often left very little traces in space. In many cases, the sites look very different today or are not very attractive or accessible to visit. Therefore, the expansion in the digital space, i.e. by means of an app and a website is crucial, and enables the integration of photos, video, audio, maps or graphics. Additionally, we are discussing the implementation of more dynamic, playful or interactive digital methods, such as ‘Augmented Reality’ or participative features. 

By retracing these largely "invisible" social histories today, the project emphasizes the relevance of an active culture of remembrance. It examines the conditions under which collective solidarity and action became possible in the past to hopefully encourage and inspire for political participation in the present.