The dominant form of globalisation, i.e. financial globalisation, is the biggest challenge for employees and their representations of interest. If it remains largely unregulated, not only the natural resources will be destroyed, but also social sustainability will be prevented. The negative effects of this development are first of all to be felt on the local and regional level. It is here, therefore, where counter initiatives and strategies have to start. The quality of life and working-life has not necessarily increased through globalisation and the New Economy, though the possibilities of improved communication via email and Internet were positively acknowledged. The biggest challenge is the increasing inequality on a global scale, which is produced so far by the New Economy. As education contributes to enlarge this gap, it has to be adapted to the new social needs to overcome this polarisation. The ongoing development must be reversed: Real needs demand more spending for public than for private consumption. Intermediate organisations can play a positive role in this process."

Die Freiheit der Meinungsäußerung und die Pressefreiheit sind weltweit verstärkt bedroht. Die Freiheit der Kunst ist in Frage gestellt, und Künstlerinnen, Künstler und Schriftsteller im Exil machen eine Erfahrung, die auch Erich Maria Remarque machen musste, nachdem seine Bücher am 10. Mai 1933 von den Nationalsozialisten verbrannt wurden. Die Beiträge dieses Bandes beleuchten das Thema aus unterschiedlichen internationalen Perspektiven; sie gehen aus einer gemeinsam von der VHS Osnabrück, der Erich Maria Remarque-Gesellschaft und dem Erich Maria Remarque-Friedenszentrum ausgerichteten Tagung hervor. Sie werden ergänzt durch aktuelle Studien zur Rezeption Remarques in den USA und Südamerika. The freedom of speech and the freedom of press are worldwide endangered. The freedom of art is challenged and artists and authors in exile experience what Erich Maria Remarque experienced after his books were burnt by Nazis after May, 10th in 1933. The contributions in this volume highlight this issue from different perspectives. They are the result of a conference organised by the Volkshochschule Osnabrück, the Erich Maria Remarque-Gesellschaft (Erich Maria Remarque Society) and the Erich Maria Remarque-Friedenszentrum (Erich Maria Remarque Peace Center). The volume also includes recent studies on the reception of Remarque in the U.S. and South America.

***Angaben zur beteiligten Person Stegemann: Bernd Stegemann ist Vorsitzender der Erich Maria Remarque-Gesellschaft e.V.

This book presents a selection of presentations during the Fifth Congress of the International Network «Regional and Local Development of Work and Labour». The congress took place at the University of Osnabrück in September 2006. However, it was not a traditional congress, but it revived the practice of «future workshops», which were invented by Robert Jungk. The book assembles 33 articles covering all social sciences by authors from 16 different countries: Austria, Brazil, Denmark, Germany, France, India, Italy, Japan, The Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Poland, Russia, South Africa, Spain, and Sweden. It is dedicated to the democratization of the different spheres of society from a grassroot-perspective.