Exploring Political Engagement among Dusseldorf's Youth
In the heart of Germany, Düsseldorf is pioneering new methods to engage uninterested young people in politics. The city's strategies, as demonstrated by the nexus Institute and the University of Düsseldorf, centre around deliberative democracy formats and digital innovation.
The nexus Institute, a key player in Düsseldorf, designs and implements innovative participation concepts such as Citizens’ Assemblies for Democracy. These assemblies provide a platform for direct democratic decision-making, helping to increase political interest and engagement among typically disengaged groups. The Institute's work has been acknowledged for successfully boosting voluntary engagement and social cohesion, particularly emphasising flexibility and experimentation – key attributes appreciated by young demographics [1].
The University of Düsseldorf's Centre for Advanced Internet Studies has developed digital opinion monitoring tools, analysing public attitudes towards emerging technologies. Such initiatives aim to include young people in smart, tech-oriented civic dialogues, making political participation more appealing and relevant to them [3].
While a city-wide youth engagement program specific to Düsseldorf was not explicitly detailed, the approaches highlighted here showcase effective strategies used in similar German contexts. These strategies include the use of citizens’ assemblies and deliberative formats involving young people directly, leveraging digital tools and AI-based opinion platforms to capture and incorporate youth perspectives, and emphasising experimentation and adapting participation methods to current social dynamics and young people’s lifestyles [1][3].
The "Co-Creating Our City" project, being conducted with the support of youth researcher Christine Hübner and Lea Gronenberg, is a prime example of Düsseldorf's innovative approach. This project, supported by the Gambrell Foundation based in Charlotte, involves 15 Düsseldorf youth aged 16 to 19 and five representatives from politics and administration. The participants developed the research question "What needs to happen for all young people to be able to participate politically?" [2]
The project results were presented at the "House of Youth" on Lacombletstraße on Friday, June 27. The project's five events aimed to foster a dialogue between young people and local politics, with Hannah (17) and Vincent (19) emphasising the importance of a strong social media presence to reach their peers [2].
Despite the project, Hannah and Vincent do not express interest in engaging politically in party politics. Dr. Christine Hübner, a youth researcher at the University of Sheffield, expresses concerns about youth participation in Düsseldorf not reaching the intended audience. She suggests that schools could be a potential avenue to reach more young people [2].
Practical barriers, such as a lack of spaces for events on interesting political topics, also pose challenges. An app is proposed as a potential solution to reach young people in schools. As the project continues, it will be interesting to see how Düsseldorf continues to innovate and adapt its strategies to engage its youth in politics.
References:
[1] nexus Institute. (n.d.). Citizens' Assemblies for Democracy. Retrieved from https://nexus-institute.org/en/projects/citizens-assemblies-for-democracy/
[2] City of Düsseldorf. (2021, June 27). Co-Creating Our City: Project Results Presentation. Retrieved from https://www.duesseldorf.de/de/presse/pressemitteilungen/detail/co-creating-our-city-projekt-ergebnisse-vorfuehrung/
[3] University of Düsseldorf - Centre for Advanced Internet Studies. (n.d.). Digital Opinion Monitoring Tools. Retrieved from https://www.cais.uni-duesseldorf.de/en/research/digital-opinion-monitoring-tools/
The nexus Institute's work on Citizens' Assemblies for Democracy, aimed at promoting direct democratic decision-making, falls under the category of education-and-self-development, as it seeks to increase political interest and engagement among young people.
The University of Düsseldorf's Centre for Advanced Internet Studies' initiative on digital opinion monitoring tools for public attitudes towards emerging technologies aligns with general-news, considering the importance of including young people in smart, tech-oriented civic dialogues that are relevant to them.
