As of: March 9, 2024, 10:42 a.m
By: Lilli Schaule
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The management team of Youmocracy Munich from left to right: Linus Spörl, Paula Hofmann, Vinzenz Knöll and Thomas Weber.
© Youmocracy Munich
Discussing current topics and thereby strengthening democracy: This idea is embodied by the non-partisan association Youmocracy.
An insight into the Munich regional group.
Munich – “Democracy needs you”: That is the idea behind Youmocracy, a non-partisan discussion forum in Germany that was founded in 2020.
Youmocracy is a combination of the English words
You
and
Democracy.
The association wants to bring people of all political leanings together and encourage a shared exchange.
To this end, it regularly organizes discussion forums in which current topics within the framework of the basic democratic order are discussed.
The Munich regional team introduces itself.
Sobering party work: Paula Hofmann preferred to be active herself
22-year-old Paula Hofmann set up the Youmocracy group in the Bavarian capital three years ago.
The political science student used to be a member of a party herself, but working in it sobered her up.
“Less pride, less ideology, less ego.
“It’s a one-man show right now,” she says about current politics.
Hofmann preferred to take action himself and get away from strict hierarchies.
Hofmann leads the Munich regional group together with students Vinzenz Knöll, Thomas Weber and Linus Spörl.
“I come from a family with many different political views.
Nevertheless, there was never any hostility, just constructive discussions.
It’s the same with Youmocracy,” says 19-year-old Spörl, describing his enthusiasm for Youmocracy.
In principle, according to Hofmann, anyone who represents basic democratic values can get involved in the management team.
Burning topic: Participants discuss a possible shift to the right in Germany
An important step in planning events is choosing a topic for discussion.
“It’s the art of finding out where it burns and where you hit a nerve,” explains Hofmann.
People would be more interested in discussing topics that concern them themselves.
The issue that burned the most was the shift to the right in Germany - 50 participants attended the discussion.
Youmocracy also hit a nerve with the topics of social inequality, climate change, artificial intelligence and young voters.
In the last semester, on January 18, 2024, Youmocracy Munich hosted a panel discussion on the topic of the shift to the right.
There were around 50 participants - including some seniors.
© Youmocracy Munich
The Munich group organizes two to three discussions per semester, each lasting around three hours.
“The time during the discussions always flies,” says the leader in an interview.
First, the participants would exchange ideas in the plenary session, then the discussion would continue in smaller groups.
At the last forums there were always around 15 participants.
Finally, the team organized a panel discussion with permanent speakers and two places that were filled spontaneously.
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Discussions aren’t just for students: “Now we’re a mixed bag”
Get out of the student environment: The Youmocracy Team Munich doesn't just want to reach students with its discussions.
According to Hofmann, this is achieved quite well through collaboration with other organizations: “In the beginning we were mainly active among students, then we grew and got bigger.
We are now a mixed bag.” Trainees, students and young adults in professional life are now also taking part in the discussions – even seniors are part of the party from time to time.
Guests from Austria and South Tyrol have also joined in the discussion, says Spörl in an interview.
Student Ronja Hofmann took part in some discussion forums.
“I thought it was really cool, which is why I came back more often,” she explains to the editors.
Above all, she liked the non-partisan nature of the association and the constructive culture of discussion.
Strengthen democracy through discussion
In the future, the Youmocracy Team Munich would like to continue to grow and continue to organize many discussion forums.
The next discussion event will take place on March 26th together with the YouthBridge project.
Youmocracy Munich will also be represented on Democracy Day Bavaria on May 25th.
According to Paula Hofmann, democracy is the way to combat social conflicts: “If we don’t actively commit to democracy, it will collapse.
Then comes polarization, fears, frustration and disappointment.”
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