About us

For some years now, we have also been observing the strengthening of anti-democratic forces in Germany, the increase in right-wing acts of violence and, not least, the entry of right-wing populist parties into the Bundestag. The values of our coexistence are increasingly being called into question. At the same time, however, we are also experiencing a heightened sensitivity to issues of equality and access, an increase in civic engagement and a greater politicisation of young people. We find ourselves in conflicts of negotiation about social and political participation in an increasingly diverse, but also unequal society. Affiliations are being renegotiated, increasingly outside of familiar right-left or east-west patterns. Instead, we are seeing a growing polarisation within thematic debates, reinforced by social media, whose debate culture relies more on emotions and resentment than on the exchange of arguments.

These social transformation processes lead to questions about social cohesion and equal coexistence - and harbour not only dangers but also opportunities for the future of democracy. The Federal Chancellor Helmut Schmidt Foundation wants to play a critical and constructive role in shaping this democratic change - building on the conviction of our namesake that democracy is not a state, but a process.

In the "Democracy and Society" programme line, we deal with the fundamental questions of democracy and the cohesion of society. We ask questions and seek answers on the consequences of the shift of debates to digital spaces, on how to deal with anti-plural and anti-democratic forces and on future lines of conflict. In doing so, we consider the phenomena not only in their current but also in their historical context. In order to do justice to the complexity and interconnectedness of socio-political issues, we are particularly keen to bring together representatives from various specialist disciplines, politicians and representatives from civil society as well as activists and people from the arts and culture scene. By using innovative and participatory formats, we seek new approaches to familiar problems in order to not only analyse democratic change, but also to live it.

The European Union - the most successful peace project of all time? This narrative about the EU has long dominated public discourse. It remains an outstanding achievement of the European unification process that war between EU member states is unthinkable today. However, the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine has shaken the European peace and security order. It is one of the worst outbreaks of violence on the continent since 1945, shows us that peace and security in Europe cannot be taken for granted and calls into question long-held basic assumptions of German and European foreign policy. The war also has far-reaching consequences beyond Europe, for example in global energy and food security or for international engagement in conflicts and crises worldwide.

In the work of the "Europe and International Politics" programme line, we analyse current challenges and opportunities for peace and security in Europe and the world. We develop concrete political solutions, promote informed political and social debate and make research-based knowledge available to the wider public.

Our public history projects shed light on the history of Helmut Schmidt in the context of German and international contemporary history. Closely linked to the scientific cataloguing of the Helmut Schmidt Archive, they communicate history through educational work and innovative formats. Public history brings history into society - whether through archives, museums or places of remembrance.

Globalisation, digitalisation and climate change are fundamentally changing the way we do business and live together. The increasing socio-economic inequality in almost all parts of the world since 1980 became particularly evident during the global economic and financial crisis in 2008. The coronavirus pandemic has further exacerbated it. Both crises show how difficult it is for the international community to mitigate social and economic upheavals. However, the line between winners and losers runs not only between the countries of the Global North and the Global South, but also through the centre of the European Union and its member states. More and more citizens are losing trust in politics and feel at the mercy of economic forces. Instead of international cooperation, protectionist, economic-nationalist and populist voices are gaining more and more influence.

Helmut Schmidt saw the welfare state as a bulwark against such economic upheavals as one of Europe's most important cultural achievements of the 20th century. With this in mind, the Federal Chancellor Helmut Schmidt Foundation is focussing on the social impact of economic activity and its political implications: How can the state act as a corrective for social justice between deregulation and redistribution? And how can Germany, as a democratic member of the international community, help to shape a socially just economic system?

In the "Global markets and social justice" programme line, we address the social consequences of economic policy decisions at national and international level. Embedded in their historical context, we analyse the intertwining of social and economic issues and the resulting challenges. In doing so, dialogue with business, politics and science is just as important to us as the inclusion of the perspectives of economically and socially marginalised groups. We look for answers and help to shape a fairer economy.