Das Progressive Zentrum

A capital shaped by competing visions, an east German city in the midst of a comeback, and a sprawling post-industrial metropolis tackling 21st-century transformations head-on: The first of two delegation trips brought our New Urban Progress fellows to Berlin, Leipzig, and the Ruhr Valley – urban spaces in Germany that are defining the future of the city.

300 people from five European countries were interviewed about their image of the European Union. Among the interview participants in Germany, the peace narrative still takes hold, although inequalities in the distribution of wealth are strongly criticized. Concerns about the rule of law among eastern neighbors can be found, as well as concerns about ‘too much Europe’. For the future, most wish for a Europe of justice.

For the fifth year in a row, Innocracy 2021 brought together thinkers and doers from the fields of politics, academia, civil society, as well as arts and culture in Berlin. This year, we explored how we can democratise areas of our societies that are being removed from democratic control. At Innocracy, one aspect became very clear: Any radical change requires strong legitimation through democratic processes. Therefore, the answer to the multiple crises of the 21st century can not be less but only more democracy.

The next German government has a historic opportunity to set a progressive agenda for the coming decade. Read our newsletter to find out what’s at stake. Plus: All the latest publications & news from Das Progressive Zentrum.

The 2021 German Election brought a decisive vote for change: Merkel’s center-right party lost points, while the Social Democrats and the Greens made meaningful gains. But what are the implications? In this new episode of the “Talking Progress” podcast, Ricarda Lang, Jeremy Cliffe, and Tobias Dürr discuss how a new social-green-liberal coalition can be successful.

Under the shadow of the Covid-19 pandemic, the beginning of the 2020s has also been politically marked by generation-defining elections. Less than one year after Joe Biden’s historic victory in the United States and half a year before France heads to the polls, Germany voted for change: Merkel’s center-right party lost points, while the Social Democrats and the Greens made meaningful gains. Ricarda Lang, Jeremy Cliffe, and Tobias Dürr discuss the implications.

On the occasion of the 2021 Bundestag election, Das Progressive Zentrum e.V. hosted the non-partisan “Great Election Night 2021” in the state representation of Rhineland-Palatinate.

Just two weeks before the 2021 German Election, Elisabeth Niejahr, Thomas Kleine-Brockhoff and moderator Sumi Somaskanda discussed how a post-Merkel Germany would affect the future of transatlantic relations. They also detailed what transatlantic actors can do to continue improving the transatlantic partnership at the city, state, and national levels.

Das Progressive Zentrum invites you to join the Innocracy Conference 2021. Together with renowned speakers, we want to explore how processes of democratisation can be answers to the multiple crises we are facing.

Robotisation, automation and digitalisation are transforming labour markets around the globe. While workers in Germany and around the world are aware of the potential benefits of technological change, they are also worried about losing their jobs. How concerned are workers and which political measures do they demand from their governments to deal with this transformation?

How can regulatory frameworks best serve people while also upholding democratic principles? Tune in to an exclusive one-on-one conversation between the Executive Vice President of the European Commission for the Digital Age and Competition, Margrethe Vestager, and the Co-Chairman of the German Green Party, Robert Habeck.

The American Rescue Plan is pumping 1.9 trillion dollars into citizen’s pockets, the economy, and measures against the Covid-19 pandemic. What has this meant for cities and urban spaces? Two former mayors discuss how cities can use this funding to build back better.

From 9-11 June the progressive community came together for the 2021 Progressive Governance Digital Summit (PGS21) to debate how to make the 2020s a decade of progress. With the pandemic warranting bold action, speakers and participants focused on how to seize the current momentum to implement progressive change.

As the general elections in Germany draw nearer, Angela Merkel’s time as Chancellor, and thus an era of German EU policy-making, is coming to an end. A new German government will step onto the EU policy stage. This year’s “Actually European!?” study examines the expectations that citizens have of the next German government’s EU policy. Moreover, the long-term study, now in its third year, surveys what Germans perceive to be the country’s role within the EU.

The online summit hosted more than 30 sessions and focused on transformation, democracy, progressive leadership, and Europe’s role in a multilateral world from from 09 to 11 June 2021. Olaf Scholz, Margrethe Vestager, Nadia Calviño, Ardalan Shekarabi, Robert Habeck, Jagmeet Singh, Leonore Gewessler and up to 75 other speakers from Europe and North America participated in the event.

Inequality is often misperceived in the German population. Using survey data, a new paper by the University of Konstanz in cooperation with Das Progressive Zentrum presents evidence for this claim. While inequality is indeed seen as a problem, its extent is underestimated in important aspects. Yet, large parts of the population support a more egalitarian society. This gives rise to the potential for a political agenda that strengthens progressive and egalitarian policies.

The majority of Germans want the future chancellor to adopt a new style of political leadership. This is the result of a representative survey commissioned by the Berlin-based think tank ‘Das Progressive Zentrum’ in mid-May 2021. The survey was realized by Civey. According to the results, Angela Merkel’s successor should above all be courageous in ‘taking new bold paths’, be ‘willing to change’ and show ‘assertiveness’.

Artists and cultural workers are among the worst affected by the coronavirus pandemic. While some countries have offered support, others have let their artists down. Especially independent creators without connections to well-established cultural institutions are struggling. In this Interview, Dr Michael Wimmer, a renowned political scientist, offers an overview of this sector’s current situation and future challenges. An industry that he predicts will permanently change due to the pandemic’s wave of digitisation.

As part of year-round activities complementing the annual Progressive Governance Summit, Das Progressive Zentrum and its London-based partner organisation Policy Network invited two Dutch experts to discuss take-aways from Europe’s first key parliamentary election this year.