Democracy

ID² – Ideas Workshop for Diversity-Sensitive Democratization

In Augsburg, ID² is exploring new approaches to neighborhood development that are both democratic and sensitive to discrimination. At the heart of the initiative are the voices of those who are often overlooked.

About the project

With the project ID² – Ideas Workshop for Diversity-Sensitive Democratization, new approaches are being tested to bring democracy to life in the everyday realities of urban neighborhoods. Augsburg is home to people of diverse backgrounds, age groups, religions, and social circumstances. Yet not all voices are equally heard in political debates or urban development. ID² specifically focuses on areas where participation is often lacking and aims to demonstrate how democratic processes can be designed to be sensitive to discrimination and inclusive of all.

The project spans three years and concentrates on three districts in Augsburg. It centers on two key areas: housing and the living environment, as well as health—fields that are essential to daily life and where social tensions are particularly palpable. At the heart of the initiative are the so-called negotiation councils: small groups of residents who represent their neighborhood by discussing challenges, developing solutions, and bringing them into the political sphere. They are accompanied by “listening participants” from local government and politics, as well as external experts who contribute additional perspectives.

A crucial aspect is that local residents are recognized as experts of their own lived realities. They know best where problems lie, what potential exists, and which solutions might work. By amplifying these voices, ID² aims to spark new impulses for more equitable urban development. A scientific advisory board from Augsburg University of Applied Sciences and the University of Augsburg supports the project, evaluates experiences, and helps ensure that the outcomes have relevance beyond the city itself.

Through public events, workshops, and neighborhood activities, a vibrant exchange emerges that highlights new forms of solidarity and diverse coexistence. The goal is not only to inspire the participating districts but also to offer a model for how democratic processes can be shaped in ways that are sensitive to discrimination. This approach also reaches those who are not directly represented in the councils, creating a broadly rooted process that sees diversity not as a challenge, but as a democratic strength.

Democracy is under pressure: political alienation, social polarization, and experiences of discrimination for many people make it difficult to negotiate future issues together. In an urban society like Augsburg, which is characterized by diversity, new forms of participation are therefore needed. ID² addresses this exactly: we create spaces where neighbors, regardless of origin, status, or language, can engage in equal conversations and contribute their perspectives.

ID² aims to contribute to making democratic participation more inclusive, just, and effective. The project particularly gives marginalized voices a platform and empowers residents to directly bring their concerns into political decision-making processes. Through the work of the negotiation councils, concrete proposals and projects are to be developed in the neighborhood, demonstrating how diversity can be used as a resource for democracy. In the long term, the goal is to test models that can also serve as inspiration for discrimination-sensitive citizen participation beyond Augsburg.

The implementation takes place in two phases: 2025–2026 in the district Rechts der Wertach with a focus on housing and living environment, and 2026–2027 in Links der Wertach North and South with a focus on health. The central element is the Negotiation Council, in which around ten residents of the respective district collaborate. Selection is done through open applications and targeted outreach to local organizations. The councils are accompanied by listening participants from administration and politics as well as visiting experts from other cities. Their work is divided into three phases: an inventory, a joint laboratory-style negotiation, and a workshop phase in which concrete projects and Citizen Papers are created.