was born in Lübeck in 1940 and grew up in Freiburg, where he began his studies in German, history and philosophy. He completed his education in Berlin, where he lives today. His political ambitions developed as early as 1965, when he wrote speeches for SPD politicians engaged in the Bundestag election campaign. Schneider quickly found a role as one of the key activists in the 1968 students movement. He has written short stories, novels, scripts and commentaries. In addition, he has written essays and speeches that have tackled, with incisive argument, the political and ideological questions of his time. Since 1985 he has taught as a guest lecturer at American universities, including at Stanford and at Princeton.