The aim of this inaugural meeting was to surface practical needs from the field, identify initial points of intersection with research, and explore opportunities for collaboration. Among the participants were, among others, Klima-Allianz Deutschland e.V., Aktionsbündnis Brandenburg, More in Common, and the think tank Das Progressive Zentrum.

From the very beginning, it became clear that participants were grappling with remarkably similar challenges: addressing anti-democratic tendencies, fostering political participation, strengthening social cohesion and solidarity, and considering how evidence-based approaches can enrich public discourse. These shared concerns formed the basis for the deeper discussions that unfolded throughout the roundtable.

Insights from the research consortium presented by Dr. Nadja Baer, along with contributions on psychologically grounded intervention approaches to strengthening social cohesion by Dr. Nadine Knab, met with concrete practical experiences from climate action, democracy work, and civic engagement. In this dialogue, participants identified both potentials and obstacles — ranging from low-threshold participation formats and argumentation trainings to needs related to addressing extremist narratives.

Particularly enriching was the collective look toward the future, during which participants developed concrete ideas and visions for continued collaboration.

This inaugural roundtable clearly demonstrated how productive a space can be in which researchers and practitioners share and jointly advance their perspectives. We look forward to carrying these ideas forward together — in regular roundtables, thematic meetings, and ongoing collaborations.