The State of Germany Atlas by Bernhard Schafers

Author:Bernhard Schafers [Schafers, Bernhard]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781138459335
Google: 0V1fswEACAAJ
Publisher: Routledge
Published: 2017-07-27T22:35:20+00:00

16 CLUBS AND ASSOCIATIONS

The right to form free clubs ( Vereine)and associations (Verbände)is a vital link between all middle class and workers’ movements for political emancipation. In Germany, this right is enshrined in Article 9 of the Basic Law.

Clubs play a major role in German life – especially in small communities. They turn a complex society into a close social network. They also provide a vital means of social integration, for foreigners as well as Germans, and they are especially important for young people.

Their origins and traditions are middle class, so it is not surprising that there are as yet considerably fewer clubs in the eastern Länder than there are in the west. In East Germany, social and cultural life and leisure activities were organized on a completely different basis, with the workplace at the centre. Membership of all types of club is therefore markedly lower than it is in the west.

Clubs and associations are usually considered together since they both mainly rely on voluntary membership. However, associations tend to focus mainly on political and professional interests, whereas clubs tend to focus on leisure. A clear division between the two is impossible. They are not only organized in the same way, but some clubs are also active in the political and professional world.

The Civil Code (BGB or Bürgerliche Gesetzbuch)distinguishes between clubs with business interests and those without. To set up a club and run it as a legal entity, it is necessary to get on to the register of Vereine at the district court. Most clubs, including sports clubs, are registered, as well as ‘citizens’ initiatives’ formed for a particular purpose (see note to 33. Political Participation). Sports clubs, music clubs, shooting clubs, and also clubs concerned with local traditions such as carnivals, are hugely important to individual members because they provide a way of participating in the social and cultural life of the community. In sports clubs, for instance, it is still customary to remain a member even after age rules out active involvement.

The sports clubs are the largest Vereine, and these are brought together within an umbrella organization, the Deutscher Sportbund. In 1995, it had over 22 million members within 85,519 sports clubs. This means that every fourth German is a member of a sports club. Almost five million members are under 15 years old, with large differences between east and west Germany. Sports club membership is still mainly a male affair and men constitute 61 percent of all members. The Deutscher Fuβballbund has the largest number of members in the Deutscher Sportbund. In 1995 it had 5.7 million members, a quarter of all paying members. Only 11 percent of football club members are female.

The Deutscher Sängerbund is the umbrella organization for the many singing clubs or choirs which are so popular across Germany. In 1995, it had almost two million members within 17,520 choirs. Altogether there are about 21,000 choirs which belong to regional singing associations: 44 percent are men's choirs, 34 percent are mixed choirs, 10 percent are women's choirs, and 12 percent are young people's choirs and boys’ choirs.

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