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Home > Policy > White Paper, Notice, Announcement > White Paper > JAPANESE GOVERNMENT POLICIES IN EDUCATION, SCIENCE AND CULTURE 1993 > CHAPTER 4 �5 4 (1)

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Chapter 4 Culture Connects the World
�5 Cultural Policy in Foreign Countries
4 Cultural Policy in Germany
(1) Outline


Germany is a federal republic made up of state governments. As the tendency towards decentralization is prevailing, the majority of administration is conducted by the state governments. Because of the strong influence exerted on national cultural policies during the reign of Nazism, Germany has chosen a change in direction, and allows protection and promotion of cultural affairs to be handled independently by the respective states. As of 1989, cultural expenditures, a large portion of which are covered by the states and municipalities, totaled 0.92 % of the total administration expenditures, which is a relatively high figure among the European countries. After the reunification of Germany, because the Federal Government took on an obligation to provide stability and continuity to the cultural life of the former East Germany as a part of the unification pact, Federal Government expenditures were temporarily enhanced. The totals and proportions of cultural expenditures of the Federal Government, the states and the municipalities are shown in Table I-4-8.

In the Federal Government, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Education and Science share a cultural budget. They do not subsidize individual activities or groups, as the Ministries of Education and Culture of the respective states act as the centers of cultural infrastructure management. A standing conference of the state Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs (Standige Konferenz der Kultusminister der Lander) has been established for coordination and cooperation between the states.

As for cultural exchange with foreign countries, the Goethe-Institute actively conducts cultural exchange programs with subsidies from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in order to promote study of the German language and international cultural exchange and mutual understanding.

Table 1-4-8 Sums and Rates of Expenditures of the Federal Government, States and Municipalities for Cultural Affairs


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