A cooperation with the Heinrich-Böll-Foundation

Together with the Heinrich-Böll-Foundation, das Progressive Zentrum examines the major implications of progressive politics in relation to pressing questions of our time. Our kick-off workshop on May 20th 2010 headed “Beyond the Third Way – Future Politics Today” gathered a panel of experts from politics, academics, and journalism. This successful start leads us to deal with further pressing questions of our time: In autumn 2010 we will discuss the political leeway of responsible fiscal and financial politics. The first half of 2011 will be dedicated to future social policies in the sense of social investment states as well as to sustainable growth-strategies for ecological modernisation. Before the summer break we will analyse the challenges Germany is facing as a political player acting in favour of security in Afghanistan and elsewhere.

The results of the federal elections in 2009 clearly demonstrated that the five-party-system will remain a typical characteristic of Germany’s parliamentary structure. Among other implications, this means that two parties will not suffice for a progressive governing majority.

Yet das Progressive Zentrum is convinced that progressive policies first of all need to be prepared formulated and discussed with regard to their content, rather then concerning the weighing of votes.

To meet these ends, das Progressive Zentrum together with the Heinrich-Böll-Foundation embarked on a series of events which aims at bringing together mainly young, politically active and progressive thinkers from politics, sciences and the civil society (think tanks). The single events are themed with the exception of the opening session in which the general strategic approach of progressive politics has been discussed (May 20th 2010). Click here to download the agenda of our first session “Beyond the Third Way – Future Politics Today” from May 20th 2010.