Posted in 1. June 2022, 20:11
In his lectures on the war in Ukraine, the controversial “peace researcher” from Basel, Daniele Ganser, presented theses that, according to experts, should not remain unquestioned. He was also allowed to do this before several classes at Basel Steiner school.
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On Wednesday, controversial “peace researcher” Daniel Ganser was allowed to announce his theses about the war in Ukraine.
Pino Covino / Tamedia AG
The expert criticizes that the school has given him this forum. There is much debate about the war in Ukraine, but when it comes to conspiracy theories, the line has been crossed, says Michael Butter, a professor at the University of Tübingen.
Pino Covino / Tamedia AG
“The school management knew there were controversial views on Daniel Ganser’s thesis,” says school board member Daniel Thiel.
Rudolf Steiner School in Basel
At the Jakobsberg Rudolf Steiner School in Basel, controversial “peace researcher” Daniele Ganser was allowed to give a lecture on the war in Ukraine to about 150 students on Wednesday morning. It is part of the teaching of the upper classes. “We find it very doubtful,” writes a person close to the school. “Conspiracy theories have no place in school, and especially as a compulsory school event,” said a source who wished to remain anonymous.
The lecture was prepared at the request of the 12th grade students. As the Rudolf Steiner School in Basel informed on request, in April they asked if Ganser could be invited. “The school management knew there were controversial views on Daniel Ganser’s thesis,” says school board member Daniel Thiel. For the student community, it was about gaining a basis for independent judgment. From the point of view of the school management, this also includes “listening to very different, sometimes controversial points of view and classifying them yourself”.
“We realized there were controversial views on Daniel Ganser’s theses.”
Daniel Thiel, Member of the Management Board
It can also be combined in the classroom. The lecture is also part of the series of events related to the war in Ukraine. It was opened on March 17 by Frithjof Benjamin Schenk, professor of Eastern European history at the University of Basel. In his lecture, Schenk presented the historical background of the war. According to the school administration, more events are planned.
The editors do not know the content of Ganser’s report on the war in Ukraine. At the moment, however, he is on the road with a lecture on this subject, and he has already presented his view in detail on social media. The historian condemns the Russian war of aggression, but also legitimizes it with his version of the background of the war.
Due to critical comments against NATO and the US, Ganser is also a welcome guest in the Russian state media, explaining that Moscow’s red line had been crossed in the war in Ukraine. “In its history, Russia is ultimately a victim,” says Michael Butter, professor of American literary and cultural history at the University of Tübingen. “On the other hand, Ganser does not say a word about Russian war crimes.”
“In his narrative, Russia is ultimately a victim”
Michael Butter, professor at the University of Tübingen
Butter was busy with Ganser’s work. The fact that he was invited to the Steiner school “came as no surprise to him.” ‘Alternative narratives’ were already more prevalent there during the krone pandemic than in public schools.
“I hope the students and teachers disagreed with Ganser,” says Butter. There is much debate about the war in Ukraine, but when it comes to conspiracy theories, the border has been crossed. Butter also includes Ganser’s “Maidan theory” about the fall of the then pro-Russian Ukrainian government in 2014. She resigned after nationwide protests and was replaced in a democratic election.
– There was a coup and I think that the Americans were responsible for it – emphasized Ganser, confronted with criticism for 20 minutes. He is anxious to touch upon the history of the war. After the lecture, there were also critical questions from the students – says Ganser.
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