Discrimination and Civic Engagement

The German Volunteer Survey (Deutscher Freiwilligensurvey) has repeatedly shown (2019; 2014) that there are significant differences in the practice and form of civic engagement—for example, in terms of gender, age, educational background, and migration background. People with a migration background and without German citizenship are particularly underrepresented in civic engagement. However, there is currently no reliable data on the connection between experiences of discrimination and civic engagement. All we know is that personal experiences of discrimination can be a motivating factor for civic engagement. However, we do not yet know how discrimination is experienced in civic engagement, and to what extent discrimination can also be a reason for not engaging in civic activities. The topic was also discussed centrally in the expert commission of the German government's Fourth Civic Engagement Report, which focused on “Opportunities for access to voluntary engagement.” The aim of the project is, first, to evaluate and publish in depth the data on discrimination as a barrier to access from the DeZIM.panel and, second, to enter into dialogue with civil society, administration, and the public on the topic of discrimination in civic engagement, together with the members of the Civic Engagement Commission. The focus of the project is on knowledge transfer.

To date, there has been little research on the explicit link between civic engagement and discrimination. Existing research—both in Germany and internationally—tends to focus on civic engagement as an enabling and supportive structure for overcoming barriers, including marginalized groups, and contributing to the reduction of discrimination and the creation of social participation for disadvantaged groups. Another finding of national and international research on the consequences of and responses to discrimination is that people who have experienced discrimination are more likely, under certain conditions, to become involved in combating injustice and promoting social change). This reaction can be interpreted as a form of resistance against experienced discrimination and is often motivated by the desire to defend one's own rights and the rights of others. However, it is unclear (a) to what extent people experience discrimination in their engagement and yet continue to engage, and (b) when specific forms of discrimination represent an explicit barrier to engagement.

The aim of the project is, on the one hand, to publish data beyond the results presented in the German government's engagement report in academic publications, thereby contributing to the emerging field of research on the “racialization of civic engagement” (Tran et al. 2024, Riley et al. 2021). On the other hand, in exchange with other commission members, it aims to contribute to the debates on exclusion, discrimination, racism, and civic engagement by raising awareness of direct and indirect barriers to civic engagement and discussing ways and means of removing them.

The data on civic engagement already used in the German government's engagement report will be analyzed in greater depth and detail.

The underrepresentation of people with a migration background in voluntary work is largely due to an overly narrow definition of voluntary work. People with a migration background are more likely to provide support outside of an organizational framework, which is often not covered by common operationalizations. Recruitment networks play a central role in taking up formal voluntary work. Respondents rarely perceive experiences of discrimination or structural and personal barriers.

• For research, the results underscore the need for a more inclusive definition of engagement that takes informal forms into account to a greater extent than 
  before.
• For civil society, the research shows that organizations and institutions should take targeted measures in their recruitment strategies to actively address and involve marginalized groups. 
• In addition, discrimination in civic engagement should be addressed and combated—both by raising awareness within organizations and by removing institutional barriers.