{"id":17440,"date":"2023-11-23T13:43:24","date_gmt":"2023-11-23T12:43:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.progressives-zentrum.org\/en\/?post_type=publication&p=17440"},"modified":"2026-04-08T12:08:02","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T10:08:02","slug":"industrial-heartlands-holding-the-key-to-a-more-democratic-future","status":"publish","type":"publication","link":"https:\/\/www.progressives-zentrum.org\/en\/publication\/industrial-heartlands-holding-the-key-to-a-more-democratic-future\/","title":{"rendered":"Industrial heartlands: holding the key to a more democratic future"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n
\n

The future of industrial heartlands on both sides of the Atlantic stands at a crossroads. In both Germany and the United States, 2016 was characterised by the ascendance of right-wing politics, a trend exacerbated by the ascendance of right-wing politics bolstered by a perception of abandonment among the constituents of heartland communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this working paper, through our own uniquely developed lenses, we reflect on the current challenges faced by post-industrial heartland communities and regions, spanning three specific areas:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Work and Workforce
2. Democratic and Local Participation
3. The Political Future and Elections<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For each area, we address what we believe to be the issues as they currently stand, discuss their importance to the future of the industrial heartlands, and work to develop our line of inquiry as a cohort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Authors<\/h2>\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/div>

Viktoria Bechstein<\/a><\/h4>
Alumna<\/div>
<\/div><\/div>
Viktoria Bechstein was a former Project Manager at the Progressive Center. She studied political science in Frankfurt and Lyon and interdisciplinary European studies at the College of Europe in Warsaw. Here she specialized in European economic and social policy, migration and the Europeanization of asylum policy. She gained practical experience at Hessischer Rundfunk, Amnesty International, medico international and in Benin at GIZ.<\/div><\/div>
\"\"<\/a><\/div>

Colleen Dougherty<\/a><\/h4>
Alumna<\/div>
<\/div><\/div>
Colleen Dougherty (she\/her) serves as a Research Officer at the Nowak Metro Finance Lab based at Drexel University. Her primary project is Leveraging SSBCI 2.0: Remaking America\u2019s Small Business Capital Landscape.<\/div><\/div>
Democracy Closest to Home: Principles for Local Leadership in Industrial Heartlands\u00a0<\/a><\/h6>
This paper highlights insights from our journey and proposes a set of principles for local leadership rooted in our experiences as a younger generation of transatlantic leaders navigating structural change. Our recommendations emphasise civic connection and identity, locally grounded communication, and visible delivery.<\/div><\/div><\/div>
\"\"<\/a><\/div>

Benjamin Harrington<\/a><\/h4>
Alumnus<\/div>
<\/div><\/div>
Ben is currently the Community Development Director for the City of Saline, MI where he guides the city\u2019s housing, planning, zoning, and economic development policies\/initiatives.<\/div><\/div>
Democracy Closest to Home: Principles for Local Leadership in Industrial Heartlands\u00a0<\/a><\/h6>
This paper highlights insights from our journey and proposes a set of principles for local leadership rooted in our experiences as a younger generation of transatlantic leaders navigating structural change. Our recommendations emphasise civic connection and identity, locally grounded communication, and visible delivery.<\/div><\/div><\/div>
\"\"<\/a><\/div>

Christopher McClain<\/a><\/h4>
Founder and president of the McClain Corporation<\/div>
<\/div><\/div>
Christopher B. McClain is a native of Detroit, Michigan. His portfolio of policy expertise includes international trade, economic development, and maritime policy.<\/div><\/div>
\"\"<\/a><\/div>

Linus Platzer<\/a><\/h4>
Alumnus<\/div>
<\/div><\/div>
Linus is supporting NABU NRW, the largest member-based German environmental organization, in its large regional just transition efforts in the Rhine lignite mining area.<\/div><\/div>
Democracy Closest to Home: Principles for Local Leadership in Industrial Heartlands\u00a0<\/a><\/h6>
This paper highlights insights from our journey and proposes a set of principles for local leadership rooted in our experiences as a younger generation of transatlantic leaders navigating structural change. Our recommendations emphasise civic connection and identity, locally grounded communication, and visible delivery.<\/div><\/div><\/div>
\"\"<\/a><\/div>

Milad Tabesch<\/a><\/h4>
Alumnus<\/div>
<\/div><\/div>
Milad Tabesch holds a Bachelor\u2019s degree in European Studies and Law from Osnabr\u00fcck and a double Master\u2019s degree in Public Policy and Public Administration from the Hertie School & Columbia University.<\/div><\/div>
Democracy Closest to Home: Principles for Local Leadership in Industrial Heartlands\u00a0<\/a><\/h6>
This paper highlights insights from our journey and proposes a set of principles for local leadership rooted in our experiences as a younger generation of transatlantic leaders navigating structural change. Our recommendations emphasise civic connection and identity, locally grounded communication, and visible delivery.<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
To the paper<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
About the project<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>
\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

We develop and debate progressive ideas and bring together leading actors who turn thoughts into action. Our think tank\u2019s goal: making the just transformation a reality. \u25b8 Learn more<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

What are the current challenges faced by post-industrial heartland communities and regions?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","tags":[437,338,321],"class_list":["post-17440","publication","type-publication","status-publish","hentry","tag-industrial-heartlands","tag-transatlantische-beziehungen","tag-usa","publication_categories-discussion-paper"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nIndustrial heartlands: holding the key to a more democratic future - Das Progressive Zentrum - EN<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"What are the current challenges faced by post-industrial heartland communities and regions?\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.progressives-zentrum.org\/en\/publication\/industrial-heartlands-holding-the-key-to-a-more-democratic-future\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Industrial heartlands: holding the key to a more democratic future\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"What are the current challenges faced by post-industrial heartland communities and regions?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.progressives-zentrum.org\/en\/publication\/industrial-heartlands-holding-the-key-to-a-more-democratic-future\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Das Progressive Zentrum - EN\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-04-08T10:08:02+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"2 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.progressives-zentrum.org\/en\/publication\/industrial-heartlands-holding-the-key-to-a-more-democratic-future\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.progressives-zentrum.org\/en\/publication\/industrial-heartlands-holding-the-key-to-a-more-democratic-future\/\",\"name\":\"Industrial heartlands: holding the key to a more democratic future - Das Progressive Zentrum - EN\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.progressives-zentrum.org\/en\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2023-11-23T12:43:24+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-08T10:08:02+00:00\",\"description\":\"What are the current challenges faced by post-industrial heartland communities and regions?\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.progressives-zentrum.org\/en\/publication\/industrial-heartlands-holding-the-key-to-a-more-democratic-future\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.progressives-zentrum.org\/en\/publication\/industrial-heartlands-holding-the-key-to-a-more-democratic-future\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.progressives-zentrum.org\/en\/publication\/industrial-heartlands-holding-the-key-to-a-more-democratic-future\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Startseite\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.progressives-zentrum.org\/en\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Publikationen\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.progressives-zentrum.org\/en\/publications\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Industrial heartlands: holding the key to a more democratic future\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.progressives-zentrum.org\/en\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.progressives-zentrum.org\/en\/\",\"name\":\"Das Progressive Zentrum - EN\",\"description\":\"Renewing the Promise of Progress.\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.progressives-zentrum.org\/en\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Industrial heartlands: holding the key to a more democratic future - Das Progressive Zentrum - EN","description":"What are the current challenges faced by post-industrial heartland communities and regions?","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.progressives-zentrum.org\/en\/publication\/industrial-heartlands-holding-the-key-to-a-more-democratic-future\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Industrial heartlands: holding the key to a more democratic future","og_description":"What are the current challenges faced by post-industrial heartland communities and regions?","og_url":"https:\/\/www.progressives-zentrum.org\/en\/publication\/industrial-heartlands-holding-the-key-to-a-more-democratic-future\/","og_site_name":"Das Progressive Zentrum - EN","article_modified_time":"2026-04-08T10:08:02+00:00","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"2 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.progressives-zentrum.org\/en\/publication\/industrial-heartlands-holding-the-key-to-a-more-democratic-future\/","url":"https:\/\/www.progressives-zentrum.org\/en\/publication\/industrial-heartlands-holding-the-key-to-a-more-democratic-future\/","name":"Industrial heartlands: holding the key to a more democratic future - Das Progressive Zentrum - EN","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.progressives-zentrum.org\/en\/#website"},"datePublished":"2023-11-23T12:43:24+00:00","dateModified":"2026-04-08T10:08:02+00:00","description":"What are the current challenges faced by post-industrial heartland communities and regions?","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.progressives-zentrum.org\/en\/publication\/industrial-heartlands-holding-the-key-to-a-more-democratic-future\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.progressives-zentrum.org\/en\/publication\/industrial-heartlands-holding-the-key-to-a-more-democratic-future\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.progressives-zentrum.org\/en\/publication\/industrial-heartlands-holding-the-key-to-a-more-democratic-future\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Startseite","item":"https:\/\/www.progressives-zentrum.org\/en\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Publikationen","item":"https:\/\/www.progressives-zentrum.org\/en\/publications\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Industrial heartlands: holding the key to a more democratic future"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.progressives-zentrum.org\/en\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.progressives-zentrum.org\/en\/","name":"Das Progressive Zentrum - EN","description":"Renewing the Promise of Progress.","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.progressives-zentrum.org\/en\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.progressives-zentrum.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/publication\/17440","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.progressives-zentrum.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/publication"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.progressives-zentrum.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/publication"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/www.progressives-zentrum.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/publication\/17440\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17981,"href":"https:\/\/www.progressives-zentrum.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/publication\/17440\/revisions\/17981"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.progressives-zentrum.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17440"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.progressives-zentrum.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17440"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}