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Now online: IMPULSE magazine "Protecting democracy" (in German)

Ein Magazin mit dem Titel "Impulse" liegt auf einem grauen Sofa

VolkswagenStiftung

What holds our society together in the face of the crisis of democracy? What concepts does science offer us to keep democracy strong and vibrant? We explore these questions in the latest issue of our magazine IMPULSE (in German).

From citizens' assemblies to democracy education – researchers funded by us are working on numerous current issues in the field of democracy, developing coherent recommendations on how it can be protected and strengthened. 

More on Democracy & Science

We have compiled portraits of researchers, reports on research projects, interviews, funding programmes and events on the topic for you on our constantly expanding #Democracy & Science page.

Selected articles from the Impulse magazine 2025

Reichstagkuppel von Innen
Interview

'We cannot predict whether democracy will last'

#Democracy

Germany is at the centre of a maelstrom of global crises and conflicts. Right-wing populists are enjoying growing popularity. And many solutions are expected from the new federal government. And quickly! A conversation between sociologist Steffen Mau and Georg Schütte, CEO of the Volkswagen Foundation, about the end of the 'fair-weather democracy' (Mau) and the journey into the unknown.

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Eine Frau, die aufmerksam zuhört
Story

So that everyone can have their say: Citizens' assembly on AI research

#Democracy #Artificial Intelligence #Transdisciplinarity #SciComm Centers

Rhetoric expert Anika Kaiser researches how people can make themselves heard on the major issues of our time – artificial intelligence (AI) being a case in point. She is the right person to take care that this grassroots democratic process does not remain too detached from reality: in her first life, she trained as a painter.

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Eine Illustration einer Person mit Handy, die schlangenhaft von Social media Beiträgen angegriffen wird. Eine Person, die einen protesteanten interviewt. Die Karte von Deutschland, aus der schwarz-rot-goldene Tropfen heraustropfen.
Story

What fascinates young people about the far right?

#Democracy

Hostility towards democracy is on the rise in Germany. Yet politicians and academics pay little attention to the attitudes of a particularly important group: young voters. An interdisciplinary project in eastern Germany is determined to change that.

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Bucht in Alexandria: Das Wasser steht nah an Hochhäusern
Story

Sinking Cities: Learning from Cultural Heritage

#Transdisciplinarity

Coastal cities around the world are at risk of sinking as a result of rising sea levels in the wake of global warming. Urban researcher Hilke Marit Berger asks herself how this can be dealt with, not just technically, but above all socially and emotionally – and searches the past for answers for the future.

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Portrait eines Mannes
In Brief

Developmental psychology: On the trail of everyday life

Manuel Bohn researches how children’s everyday lives become the key to grasping psychological and cognitive development. To do this, he uses innovative methods, artificial intelligence, and an international perspective. 

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Eine Gruppe von Menschen an einer Kante eines Steinbruchs.
News

Demokratie schützen: Wege zum konstruktiven Streit

#Democracy

Konflikte sind häufig so festgefahren, dass kein konstruktiver Diskurs zwischen den Kontrahenten mehr möglich ist. Stattdessen werden via Social Media Feindbilder und Fake News genährt. Diese Nicht-Kommunikation gefährdet die Demokratie. Das Projekt "Testimonial Lab" erkundet neue Kommunikationsformen, die einen Dialog wieder möglich machen.

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Order your free copy

Would you like to receive the printed edition of the current IMPULSE 2025 free of charge? Then send an e-mail with your postal address and the subject "Impulse 2025" to Birgit Rosengart-Kamburis: rosengart-kamburis(at)volkswagenstiftung.de.

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