DemoReg

Hessian research network funded by the Hessian Ministry of Science and Research, Art and Culture (HMWK) in the funding line "Strengthening democracy research in Hesse"

DemoReg analyzes trans- and interdisciplinary democratic regression at eight university locations in Hesse under the direction of Prof. Dr. Ursula Birsl (University of Marburg) and Prof. Dr. Thomas Biebricher (Goethe University Frankfurt am Main) and in over 20 subject areas. Participants are: Philipps University Marburg (network coordination); Goethe University Frankfurt am Main; University of Kassel Technical University Darmstadt; Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences; Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences; Institute for Social Research Frankfurt am Main; Sigmund Freud Institute Frankfurt am Main. Theoretical and empirical research is being conducted in various sub-projects on the following questions: What exactly does the diagnosis of democratic regression mean and how can it be empirically substantiated? What explanations can be given for such a finding? And what strategies can be developed to counteract anti-democratic tendencies in Germany?

The sub-project "Youth in Focus" (JIF ) at the Department of Sociology of Diversity at the University of Kassel, headed by Professor Dr. Elisabeth Tuider and project team member Tom Fixemer, is investigating the civic engagement of young people against the right and for democracy. Together with the Department of School and Youth at Goethe University Frankfurt, represented by Prof. Dr. Merle Hummrich and Dr. Iva Hradská, the project is being realized in a participatory and cooperative research design. JIF is a sub-project in the work package "Democratic Regression and Civil Society - Empirical Manifestations in Hesse" and is in close cooperation with the sub-project "Local Democracy Initiatives as Conflict Actors" by Prof. Dr. Charlotte Dany (Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences) and Prof. Dr. Greta Wagner (Goethe University Frankfurt).

In “JIF,” we view young people as active participants in civic engagement within post-migrant society. In doing so, we place civic engagement at the center of the discourse on democracy and its regressive dynamics. Our empirical starting point is the finding that, against the backdrop of multiple global crises—such as climate change, war, and the economy—the diversity of post-migrant society is portrayed as a threat and politicized, including on social media. For some, this is accompanied by fears of losing prosperity and social stability. Others are taking a stand against anti-democratic tendencies. Young people are actively engaged in civil society to counter such concerns through political and social engagement as well as social participation (see Albert et al. 2024; Die Techniker 2025).

“Jugend im Fokus” conducts participatory research by engaging with young people across rural and urban areas throughout Hesse at various sites of civic engagement—such as youth groups, initiatives, demonstrations, and other gathering places. What issues are young people advocating for, how are they taking action against anti-democratic developments, and how can young people and researchers support one another in promoting democratic participation against the rise of the far right?

Methodologically, JIF employs a multi-sited ethnography (see Marcus 1995) (follow-the-youth; follow-the-civic-engagement; follow-the-conflict). In line with a participatory research approach (see von Unger 2014), we aim to analyze and reflect on strategies for action against the far right and in support of democracy together with young people.

Through a discourse analysis of social media posts by right-wing actors, we examine how young people are addressed in right-wing, far-right, and other anti-democratic discourses. In conversations with young, politically engaged individuals, we also ask what effects this targeting has on their political positions.

Using an analysis of subjectivation (see Butler 2001; Spies/Tuider 2022), we will therefore examine how the processes of subjectivation among young people play out between civic engagement and right-wing influence. The goal of “Youth in Focus” is therefore to supplement current approaches to political education with the insights gained through the project—drawn from conversations with young people and empirical research findings.

For the week from 1 to 7 June 2026, the organized "Students against the Right" have organized the anti-fascist action week www.wissenschaft-gegen-faschismus.dehave called for action.

The Department of Sociology of Diversity, headed by Prof. Dr. Elisabeth Tuider, is joining this call with a workshop.

On June 2, 2026 from 12 to 2 pm we invite students of the University of Kassel to the workshop "Analyzing right-wing narratives in social media posts".

We would like to ask you to select up to 3 posts for the preparation and upload them as screenshots when registering via Moodle (incl. caption, link to the post, publication date of the post, if necessary also select central comments).

The workshop is part of the research project "Jugend im Fokus" in the Hesse-wide network "DemoReg: Herausforderungen der Demokratie in Zeiten ihrer Regression" (duration: 09/2025 - 12/2028). Further information on the project can be found here: DemoReg

We are looking forward to numerous registrations.

Prof. Dr. Elisabeth Tuider and Tom Fixemer

Albert, Mathias/Quenzel, Gudrun/Leven, Ingo/de Moll, Frederick/McDonnell, Sophia/Rysina, Anna/Schneekloth, Ulrich/Wolfert, Sabine (2024): Youth 2024: Pragmatic between disenchantment and lived diversity. Shell Germany. Weinheim, Basel: Beltz Juventa.

Butler, Judith (2001): Psyche of power. The subject of subjugation. Frankfurt a.M.: Suhrkamp.

Die Techniker (ed.): Stressreport 2025. Hamburg.

Marcus, George E. (1995): Ethnography in/of the World System: The Emergence of Multi-Sited Ethnography. In: Annual Review of Anthropology, 24, pp. 95-117.

Spies, Tina/Tuider, Elisabeth (2022): Subjectivation and Othering in the Postmigrant Society. Outline of an intersectional-decolonial subjectivation research. In: Siouti, Irini/Spies, Tina/Tuider, Elisabeth/von Unger, Hella/Yıldız, Erol (eds.): Othering in the post-migrant society. Bielefeld: transcript, pp. 57-83.

von Unger, Hella (2014): Participatory research. Introduction to research practice. Wiesbaden: Springer VS.