Threats to civil society organisations
Consensus and Conflict Department
Project head: Dr. Olaf Kleist , Dr. Moritz Sommer , Dr. Elias Steinhilper , Dr. Mirjam Weiberg
Project coordination: Dr. Moritz Sommer
Project team members: Dr. Nora Ratzmann
Civil society organisations working to strengthen democracy and combat racism, anti-Semitism, homophobia, transphobia and other forms of group-based hostility face hostility, threats and attacks. This affects their work and their social function as "schools of democracy" and requires a reaction from the liberal democratic state to protect its citizens. From a scientific point of view, however, there are hardly any reliable studies available. This research project has investigated the threat situations of those civil society project organisers that are funded in the federal programme "Live Democracy" in the field of action "Shaping Diversity". In order to support the civil society organisations that are essential in combating racism and right-wing extremism, it is central to develop a deeper understanding of these threat situations.
Results: Hostilities, threats and assaults are part of the everyday life of the project promoters interviewed. The spectrum ranges from defamation to cyberattacks to targeted intimidation. Physical assaults and vandalism were comparatively rare. In most cases, assaults are documented internally, and hostility in social media is countered in a targeted manner. The threats have a massive impact on the work and the psyche of the staff. This can reduce democratic commitment, but also sharpen one's own attitudes and clarify the meaningfulness of one's own work.
Funding: Federal Ministry of Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (Third-party funding)