Democracy and participation

It is not only since the electoral successes of the AfD (starting in 2015/16) and the PEGIDA protests that populist and far-right ideologies, cultures, movements, and parties—along with the behavioral patterns and strategies of organized actors, as well as phenomena such as skepticism toward democracy and radicalization—have moved to the center of socio-political attention and political-sociological research. This is particularly true for peripheral rural areas, for East Germany, and for Saxony. The TRAWOS Institute views these phenomena as part of a global shift toward authoritarianism, while analyzing them within the context of specific local and regional structures and circumstances—including the history of Saxony, the legacy of the GDR and the German reunification process, the long-standing governance of the Saxon CDU, and specific local conditions, such as those found in the city of Dresden or the (peripheral) border region of eastern Saxony.

In this process, TRAWOS also examines how society engages with these developments, investigating how they are addressed institutionally—for instance, through political education, initiatives to promote democracy, and efforts to prevent radicalization. Furthermore, the institute explores the conditions necessary for successful democratic participation and the inclusive shaping of social change—ranging from the macro-level of democracy as a system of governance to the micro-level of democracy as a way of life and an everyday practice.

In this context, TRAWOS also tests innovative, participatory, and transdisciplinary research approaches, asking: How must innovative research be designed to effectively, consistently, and sustainably support the success of inclusion and participation? How can participatory research be utilized not merely to reactively address the challenges facing modern democracies and social change, but to help shape them in a proactive, forward-looking manner? This also consistently involves critically reflecting on the role of the social sciences within democracy and its transformation.

Examples of externally funded projects in this area over the last 10 years include:

1. ENKOR

2. BePart

3. JuBReg

4. Partizipative (Sozial)Forschung

5. Demokratie braucht Demokratinnen

6. Hoffnung und Wut