Democracy in danger? How universities can strengthen cohesion!

Democracy in danger? How universities can strengthen cohesion!

On October 2, 2025, a survey shows that 99 percent of Germans support the idea of ​​democracy. This broad approval also includes core values ​​such as participation, freedom of expression and respect for human dignity. Nevertheless, behind this positive attitude there are tensions in society that point to potential problems with democracy. Challenges include growing distrust of parties and polarization on social media and political committees. These challenges underline the need to strengthen democratic skills.

In order to survive in a democracy, certain skills are necessary. This includes, among other things, the ability to take a position, bring together relevant points of view and deal with arguments respectfully. Critical thinking and a reflective approach to information are also fundamental. These democratic skills are strongly intertwined with the demands placed on scientists. Universities can play a central role in strengthening both democracy and science.

The role of universities in democracy education

Universities are considered places of free speech and analysis of social processes. They are not only responsible for imparting knowledge, but also actively contribute to the analysis and improvement of social processes. An example of this is the Georg-August University of Göttingen, which is organizing a lecture series on the topic of “Social Cohesion” in the 2024/25 winter semester. At the same time, the “Democratic Cohesion” conference took place at the Peace Research Institute Frankfurt in February 2025.

One focus of universities is on promoting participation. It is important that university administrations actively contribute to improving participation in their processes. Many institutions also specifically campaign against racism and discrimination in order to create an open and respectful learning environment. The importance of these measures is reflected in initiatives such as the federal “Democratic Action” competition, which aims to strengthen democratic culture among children and young people.

Research and measures to promote democracy

Research on democracy education receives significant support from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). This launched measures between 2019 and 2024 that focus on promoting freedom, equality and justice. The challenges of today, such as climate change and globalization, make it necessary to mobilize citizens for a vibrant democracy.

Another important project is the “Monitor Democracy Education”, which regularly records the status of democracy education. The aim is to check the effectiveness of the measures to strengthen democratic participation. In the context of democracy education, it is clear that social integration and dialogue between citizens are of great importance. Here, values ​​such as openness and conflict tolerance form the basis for a functioning democracy.