Threats to civil society organisations

Civil society organizations committed to strengthening democracy and combating racism, antisemitism, homophobia, transphobia, and other forms of group-related misanthropy are increasingly facing hostility, threats, and attacks. This undermines their work and their societal role as “schools of democracy,” and it requires a response from the liberal-democratic state to protect its citizens. Yet, from a scholarly perspective, there has been a lack of robust research on these issues. This study examines the threat situations faced by civil society project holders funded in the “Shaping Diversity” action area of the federal program Demokratie leben!. Developing a deeper understanding of these threats is essential for supporting the civil society organizations that play a crucial role in combating racism and right-wing extremism.

The pilot study represented a first step toward addressing the research gap on threats to civil society organizations in the field of diversity. It examined initial impacts on democratic engagement and documented preliminary protection needs and support strategies.

• Identify threat situations faced by civil society organizations in the field of diversity.
• Analyze impacts on democratic engagement.
• Determine protection needs and support strategies.

A mixed-methods approach was used to study the “Diversity Promotion” field of the Demokratie leben! program. All 68 funded organizations were systematically surveyed via an online questionnaire on threats (50 responses). Additionally, 16 semi-structured interviews were conducted. Qualitative data were thematically analyzed and triangulated with the survey results to validate recurring patterns.

Hostility, threats, and attacks are part of the everyday experience of the surveyed project holders. These range from defamation and cyberattacks to targeted intimidation, while physical assaults and vandalism are comparatively rare. Incidents are usually documented internally, and social media hostility is actively addressed. These threats have a significant impact on both the work and the well-being of staff, potentially reducing democratic engagement but also reinforcing personal convictions and highlighting the meaningfulness of their work.