Trialogue series Future of Democracy - Governance Platform gGmbH

Future of democracy trialogue series

"Who is responsible for the future of democracy? - A perspective-rich discussion series on the relationship between business and democracy in times of global change, protectionism and populism." - a joint trialogue series of the Foundation "Remembrance, Responsibility and Future" and the Berlin Governance Platform.

Liberal democracies today offer their citizens a level of prosperity like no other political system. As a form of government, democracy generally enjoys a very high level of approval in society - but its day-to-day practice is increasingly viewed with scepticism.

People's lives are changing as a result of globalisation and digitalisation. On the one hand, there are new opportunities and possibilities, but on the other, there is uncertainty. Many citizens are asking themselves whether politics - but also business, science and civil society - are in a position to find the right solutions to the new challenges. It is high time to discuss how business, politics, organised civil society and science can interact in such a way that democracy and the economy can work together sustainably.

Sustainable solutions require the participation of all relevant stakeholder groups. The special method of the Berlin Governance Platform's Trialogues opens up this necessary diversity of perspectives and creates the opportunity to exchange arguments and explore options for action in an atmosphere of trust. Trialogues are designed to be both practical and participatory by linking theoretical, often complex backgrounds with illustrative current and practice-relevant topics and issues.

In our series "Who bears responsibility for the future of democracy?", three one-day events initiated a long overdue discussion and, in particular, the role of business in interaction with politics and organised civil society was discussed in an open, controversial and enriching way for everyone.

DURATION

2018 – 2019

PARTNER

PUBLICATION

1. future of democracy: Democracy and market economy - only strong together?

The trialogue series "Who bears responsibility for the future of democracy?" was a joint initiative of the Foundation "Remembrance, Responsibility and Future" and the Berlin Governance Platform. In three one-day events
In particular, we discussed the role of the economy in an open, controversial and enriching way for everyone.

The first event in the series took place on 17 September 2018 at the Allianz Forum in Berlin. Together with the input providers and participants, we worked out and discussed the fundamental values on which democracy and the market economy are based. Are they systematically different? Are central principles such as justice and profit maximisation at odds with each other? Do market economy systems even need democracies and civil society? But also: What links the economy, politics and civil society, what are the central commonalities and what goals do they share?

Click here for the short final report.

2nd Trialogue: Companies caught between profit and the common good?

The second event in the series took place on 4 December 2018 at the Allianz Forum in Berlin. Together with the input providers and participants, we discussed what expectations society and politics can place on business: on their location policy, on their willingness to pay taxes or to fulfil environmental protection requirements. The question of which expectations are legitimate and justified and what additional obligations companies have towards society and the state was of central importance.

Click here for the short final report.

3. future of democracy: "Working poor, minimum wage and basic security" - How should good economic and social policy be organised?

The third and final event in the series took place on 15 March 2019 at the Allianz Forum in Berlin. The focus was on the question of how sustainable economic and social policy must be shaped today. Together with the input providers and participants, we discussed the importance of work for society. We analysed the consequences of a neoliberal economic policy and - closely related to this - talked about rising social inequality and its political consequences: the success of right-wing populist parties. And, of course, we debated what responsibility companies in Germany actually (can) assume for society and democracy today.

Click here for the short final report.

More projects

Trialogue series Social Cohesion
As part of the BUA's "Grand Challenge Social Cohesion" initiative, the three-part trialogue series "Social Cohesion" was held in late summer and autumn 2022. The focus was on the transdisciplinary exchange of 6 exploration projects [...]
Accommodation for refugees in Berlin
How can refugees find adequate and affordable housing in Berlin? In the midst of a tight housing market and numerous barriers to access, we are developing ideas for possible solutions with policymakers, civil society and the real estate industry.
Research atlas "Social cohesion"
The interactive research atlas "Social Cohesion" visualises the current research activities on the topic of social cohesion in the Berlin research area.
Future of democracy trialogue series
"Who is responsible for the future of democracy? - A perspective-rich series of discussions on the relationship between business and democracy in times of global change, protectionism and populism." - a joint [...]
Trialogues on the compatibility of family and career in partnership
Trialogues on the topics of work (time) culture and equality with the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth.
The working time dialogue in trialogue format
Against the background of technological innovations as well as demographic and cultural changes, which are accompanied by new demands on the organisation of work, ways of shaping an innovative working time policy will be discussed.
Trialogue series: German special path?
On behalf of the Senate Department for Urban Development and Housing and the Mitte district office of Berlin, we are realising digital citizen participation: The "Voices at the push of a button" project collects ideas via voice messages for the [...]
Voices at the touch of a button: citizen participation via voice messages
On behalf of the Senate Department for Urban Development and Housing and the Mitte district office of Berlin, we are realising digital citizen participation: The "Voices at the push of a button" project collects ideas via voice messages for the [...]
Multi-stakeholder talks on housing supply
In a series of talks on social housing provision in cities (2019 and 2020), representatives from politics and administration, business and organised civil society were brought together to discuss current challenges in the area of housing [...].
Guidelines for participation in state-owned housing construction
In 2017, the Berlin Governance Platform, in cooperation with the state-owned housing associations, held a trialogue series on the topic of "Participation in housing construction" in order to discuss these challenges of the growing city in a public interest-oriented [...].
Trialogue series "Energy Systems of the Future" (ESYS)
The Berlin Governance Platform, in cooperation with the academy project "Energy Systems of the Future", conducts trials as sounding boards for the working groups of the academy project.
Trialogue "Science Platform Sustainability 2030"
In cooperation with the Mobility Working Group of the Science Platform Sustainability 2030, the Berlin Governance Platform held the trialogue "Sustainable on the move - making mobility attractive now".
Energiewende PartnerStadt - Sharing municipal knowledge in Europe
The aim of the "Energiewende PartnerStadt" project was to exchange expertise and experience on the local energy transition across national borders, facilitate technology transfer in the field of renewable energies and promote cohesion in Europe.
Additional benefits as a driver of energy-efficient building refurbishment
The project "Additional benefits as a driver of energy-efficient building refurbishment" aimed to bring more clarity to the social debate on the multiple benefits of energy-efficient refurbishment.
Participatory development in Lusatia
The coal phase-out is linked to the need to make our society and our economy more climate- and resource-friendly. Surveys show that a large proportion of the population supports the climate policy goals. But if [...]
International exchange Berlin-Minsk
The bilateral project "Cities for Citizens" brings together German and Belarusian experts from politics & administration, business and organised civil society in Trialogue ® in order to integrate their accumulated knowledge into current [...]
New Urban Agenda Berlin
During the two-year project period (2018 to 2020), TU Berlin, in cooperation with the Berlin Governance Platform, organised four trialogues and four trialogue project groups on the urban policy challenges of mobility, immigration, housing [...].
EnVision
The project "EnVision - Shaping a vision for the energy transition" identifies areas of tension and conflicting values in the energy transition and develops proposals for political decision-makers to develop a common vision.