Inequalities today permeate all areas of our society. They shape the distribution of income and wealth as well as equal opportunities based on factors like gender, origin, or disability. In this report, Ellen Ehmke, Senior Expert at the Robert Bosch Stiftung, and Martina Ciravegna, formerly with the Robert Bosch Stiftung and now Projekt Officer at the Deutschlandstiftung Integration, explore the complex nature of these inequalities.

The authors explain different dimensions of inequality, ranging from “vertical”  differences in income and wealth to “horizontal” inequalities between social groups. They show how inequalities overlap and interconnect, creating a dense fabric that grants advantages to some while holding back others. The paper also looks at the historical roots of these inequalities: the legacy of colonialism, unequal use of natural resources, or unpaid care work. It highlights how these mechanisms continue to affect societies today.

The text illustrates why inequality harms everyone and not only those experiencing poverty and exclusion. Inequalities hinder opportunities for personal development and erode the social cohesion of societies. They undermine trust in democracies and weaken our collective ability to respond to crises.

Finally, the report presents ideas and approaches on how to address inequalities at a systemic level. At the center lies the belief that tackling inequality is a question of the distribution of power. The paper also introduces some partner organizations with which the Robert Bosch Stiftung collaborates to address inequalities.

denkhausbremen is publishing a catalogue of demands for a socially just and ecologically sustainable future. What is special about it is that the document focuses on the ideas of 25 initiatives throughout Germany in which people on a “small budget” represent themselves. The demands therefore reflect the perspectives of people who are dependent on state transfer payments, have a disability or illness that limits them, have a migration background or are homeless. The catalog is the result of a journey through Germany that has lasted several years and is a forceful appeal to shape the future together and inclusively. (In German language only)

The Fight Inequality Alliance is a movement funded by the Robert Bosch Stiftung that unites activists, artists and various organizations with the goal of fighting structural inequality in over 40 countries. In its first annual report, the movement presents itself, its mission and its projects in 2023, such as global protests, discussion forums and a global organizing school.