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Expert Group on Democracy Promotion and Democratic Practice

Expert Group on Democracy Promotion and Democratic Practice

DeZIM contributes scientific findings to the preparation and implementation of decisions and measures in the BMFSFJ's thematic area and makes these findings accessible to science and practice. A central measure is the implementation of the federal program "Live Democracy!", which promotes democracy, diversity and the prevention of extremism. The expert group evaluates the program, advises the BMFSFJ on an empirical basis and supports the transfer of knowledge between academia, civil society and politics through continuous data collection and analysis.

Democracy and diversity must be learned. We investigate when projects that promote this learning are successful - and formulate recommendations on how they can be further developed. In doing so, we are also concerned with knowledge transfer at eye level between civil society, science and politics.

Dr. Mirjam Weiberg, Head of the Expert Group on Democracy Promotion and Democratic Practice

Dr. Olaf Kleist
Co-Head of the Expert Group on Democracy Promotion and Democratic Practice

The specialist group consists of an interdisciplinary team of scientists working in three areas:

Policy and political administration: evidence-based policy advice and management knowledge. In this area, annual surveys and monitoring are used to prepare thematic focus and factual reports or briefings, brief expert opinions and individual consultations by means of commissioned research and studies, and scientific findings are prepared for specific target groups.
Civil society/(specialist) practice: Scientific support and reflection on results. By means of semi-participative and reflexive exchange processes such as participant observation, individual case analyses, logical models, annual focus conferences and quarterly workshops, marginalized or non-scientific knowledge is included in the surveys, results are fed back into practice and empirical reflection and self-evaluation processes of civil society cooperation partners are made possible.
(Specialist) science: Innovative further development of the content and methods of diversity design and evaluation research. Through the integration of qualitative and quantitative data (including document analyses, survey data, qualitative interviews and focus groups) is used to work on new, socially significant issues and needs; participatory and digital evaluation approaches and methods in particular are tested and further developed in cooperation networks.

Exploration of the topic area of diversity design and the associated stakeholders with the aim of establishing the specialist group as a point of contact on issues of diversity and democracy (e.g. statement on the Democracy Promotion Act, various requests from civil society and political administration for input and expertise).
Establishment of the "Democracy" working group in the German Society for Evaluation (DeGEval) as an important platform for the exchange between science, practice and politics / administration as well as for participation in the joint project "PrEval" for the reflection and further development of evaluation approaches and methods.
Interim report with recommendations for the continuation and further development of the federal "Live Democracy!" program and associated exchange processes from 2023 onwards
Completion of the thematic focus series on shaping diversity and promoting democracy (in the form of reports and conferences on: 1) Target group orientation and achievement; 2) Working with those "affected" by discrimination; 3) Educational methods and approaches; 4) Transfer and organizational development).