Report on the event StreitBar „Ihr da oben, wir da unten – ist Politik noch attraktiv für Bürger?"
On November 7, 2023, OvGU hosted a new edition of the StreitBar discussion format on the topic of „
Ihr da oben, wir da unten – ist Politik noch attraktiv für Bürger?" ( in English: "You up there, we down there - is politics still attractive for citizens?"). The discussion centered on the question of what it means for democracy when acceptance of political decisions decreases, citizens withdraw into the private sphere and the general public no longer feels the desire to participate in politics.
(left to right) Bert Knoblauch, Tanja Gärber, Ulli Wittstock, Dr. Johannes Gerken, Prof. Dr. Thomas Kliche
In the course of the debate, different perspectives on the causes and consequences of citizens' growing alienation from politics were discussed. Dr. Johannes Gerken from the European Studies team was part of the panel. He discussed with Prof. Dr. Thomas Kliche, political psychologist at Magdeburg-Stendal University of Applied Sciences, Tanja Gärber, psychology student at OvGU, and the Mayor of Schönebeck/Elbe, Bert Knoblauch. The StreitBar was moderated by Ulli Wittstock from MDR.
A detailed MDR event report can be found here.
Professor Heidbreder appointed Scholar in Residence 2023 by the Stiftung Europa-Kolleg-Hamburg and the Chancellor Helmut Schmidt Foundation
Professor Dr. Eva Heidbreder, head of the Chair of “Governance in the European Multilevel System” and Jean Monnet Chair at Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg has been appointed Scholar in Residence 2023 in the Stiftung Europa-Kolleg-Hamburg and the Chancellor Helmut Schmidt Foundation.
Workshop "Feminismen in der Praxis" with a talk by Alba Kugelmeier López
On October 26, the association Wir sehen hin e.V. and the Grüne Jugend Börde offered a workshop on the topic of feminism. As part of the event, Alba María Kugelmeier López, research associate and doctoral candidate at the Chair of Multilevel Governance in Europe at Otto von Guericke University, talked about feminist theories, gender-based violence and abortion rights in the context of current feminist crises in Europe.
StreitBar Event "Ist Politik noch attraktiv für die Bürgerinnen und Bürger?", with Dr. Johannes Gerken
On November 7th, 2023, a new edition of the discussion format StreitBar will take place. In this public debate, local politics, political science and political psychology will be represented on the stage of the StreitBar "Ihr da oben, wir da unten - Ist Politik noch attraktiv für die Bürgerinnen und Bürger?" ( (in English: "You up there, us down there - Is politics still attractive to citizens?")
Conference Report: "Erosion der Staatlichkeit" with the participation of Prof. Dr. Eva Heidbreder
On September 29 and 30 at the conference "Erosion der Staatlichkeit - Funktionsverluste von Demokratie und Bürokratie" (in English: "Erosion of Statehood - Functional losses of democracy and bureaucracy") organized by the Academy for Political Education in Tutzing, experts from academia, civil society and politics discussed causes and possible solutions for the loss of function of democratic institutions at the Lake Starnberg.
