The Historian's Craft and the Politics of Contemporary History in Germany

德國當代史的政治學與歷史學者的研究策略

Zdenka Gredel-Manuele

《興大人文學報》 58期 (2017/03) Pp. 173-192

摘要

The study of contemporary history, which was labeled Zeitgeschichte, has received an important status which it lacked in past German historiography. The questionable role of historians during the Nazi period placed an onus on them and necessitated a reassessment of their craft. A major role was taken by the Institut fũr Zeitgeschichte in Munich, which was established in 1950. While the institute emphasized the topic of National Socialism, its prime objective was the collection and study of the documents of the period in the West. It is of great importance to review its expansion and the establishment of similar research centers throughout Germany until today. The research topics were also expanded and now include documentations dealing with the German Democratic Republic. In addition, publications are readily available shedding light on specific research activities. This study reviews the established centers and available journals. In addition, it reviews the availability of the dissemination of historical data which has been conditioned by the technological revolution. Web portals, archival banks and on-line catalogues are just a few of the tools available to present-day scholars dealing with German contemporary history. This will be examined in detail. In addition, the creation of research centers has also been established outside of Germany, for example in London and in the United States. The recognition of this discipline at universities today, as well as the dissemination of sources enabled by technology, has made Zeitgeschichte an important scholarly, as well as a political venue, for historians.

關鍵字

German historiography ； Zeitgeschichte ； technology and research ； historians' tools

並列摘要

過去在德國歷史學當中未受重視的當代史研究（Zeitgeschichte）如今已獲得重要地位。納粹時期歷史學者的爭議性角色使得德國當代史學者身負重任，並產生重新評估歷史學者技藝的必要性。主要擔負此一任務的，是1950年便已在慕尼黑創設的當代史研究所（Institut fũr Zeitgeschichte）。該中心主要關注納粹國家社會主義（National Socialism），以蒐集與研究該時期相關西方文獻為目標。我們有必要針對該研究中心的擴張、其他類似的研究中心在德國各地的創設，進行一個整體的回顧。德國當代史的研究主題也不斷擴展，如今含括東德的研究。此外，也出現不少探討特定研究活動的研究著作。本文審視德國當代史相關研究中心與學術期刊，並回顧科技革命影響下史料的流通與取得狀況。網路數位平台、檔案庫與線上目錄等等，都成為今日研究德國當代史的學者可資利用的工具，本文將詳盡討論。此外，在英國倫敦、美國等德國以外的地方，也成立了相關的研究中心。大學對於德國當代史學科領域的認可、科技帶來的資源流通，使得德國當代史成為歷史學者的學術與政治活動的場域。

並列關鍵字

德國歷史學 ； 當代史 ； 科技與研究 ； 歷史學者的工具

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