Democracy

Democracy in Germany, Europe, and all across the globe is facing major challenges. Trust in institutions and processes is dwindling, and many citizens find their expectations of participation and justice are not being met. This feeling of being underrepresented in political discourse and processes can undermine the legitimacy of democracy, as well as intensify a tendency toward division and populism, challenging the very foundations of our coexistence.

We advocate for viable democracy and rule of law in Germany and Europe, which enjoy legitimacy and the critical trust of their citizens. The cornerstone to achieve this is a firmly embedded, lived experience of a culture of democracy – both online and in real life – and politically educated citizens who are capable of discerning thought and taking action, citizens who put democracy into practice as they actively participate and demand inclusion.

We encourage people to acquire the skills needed to maintain a healthy democracy, a constructive culture of debate, as well as political and societal inclusion. We also strengthen innovative civic participation formats in order to complement representative democracy, meaning more people regard themselves as shapers of political processes. In doing so, we focus on the working age population and center our involvement on Germany’s shared border regions with its neighbors.