Young civil society needs reliable spaces: a discussion between the Bundesjugendring and State Secretary Dr Dörte Dinger

Youth organisations and youth networks provide young people with accessible pathways to democratic engagement. Reliable structures are needed for this, particularly at a time when democratic civil society is under pressure.

“Young people need spaces where they can experience and help shape democracy. Youth organisations make an important contribution to this because they facilitate participation, the assumption of responsibility and democratic experience,” said State Secretary Dr Dörte Dinger
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The discussion also focused on young people’s voting behaviour. From the Bundesjugendring’s perspective, the U18 Bundestag election shows that young people expect democratic policies that are fit for the future. At the same time, the rise in support for the far-right AfD is a cause for great concern. Young people’s voting decisions do not arise in isolation from their social environment. This makes spaces for political youth education all the more important, where democratic attitudes are strengthened and right-wing interpretations of crises are critically examined.

Particular attention must be paid to regions where youth organisation structures are less firmly established and democratic spaces are coming under greater pressure. Youth organisation work takes a preventative approach in these areas: at an individual, organisational and societal level.

Daniela Broda, Chair of the Bundesjugendring, emphasised: 
“As part of child and youth welfare services, youth organisations fulfil a statutory mandate and therefore require reliable funding through the federal government’s Child and Youth Plan.”

Wendelin Haag, Chair of the Bundesjugendring, also made it clear: 
“Youth engagement sustains the foundations of our democracy. The state must clearly recognise that voluntary work is an indispensable bridge between democratic civil society and democratic institutions.”

Opinions differed on voluntary service, military service and compulsory service. The participants agreed that voluntary service is of great social importance. From the Bundesjugendring’s perspective, voluntary engagement must not be pitted against debates on security policy. Young people must be involved in all decisions affecting their life plans, their civil liberties and their opportunities for engagement.

The Bundesjugendring also made it clear that youth participation must be structurally embedded within federal ministries. Successful participation processes demonstrate that young people’s perspectives can be effectively incorporated. In this regard, the Bundesjugendring referred to the Specialist and Coordination Unit for Youth Participation (FKS), the Coordination Centre for Youth Participation in Climate Issues (KJK) and the quality standards for child and youth participation. Clear mandates, transparent decision-making processes and binding feedback to young people are needed.