In times of disinformation and fake news, dialogue is particularly important to counteract prejudices and develop a deeper understanding of complex issues. The German-Ukrainian Dialogue project aims to promote social cohesion and strengthen trust both between people and in democracy.
In response to the Monday demonstrations (regular demonstrations with anti-Ukrainian slogans taking place in some towns of Germany, usually gathering between 50 and 500 ppl) and the dissatisfaction in large parts of eastern Germany, we want to bring citizens together through informal dialogues in everyday places like bars, sports clubs, and other meeting points. Our approach relies on personal contacts and the exchange of diverse opinions to raise awareness and reduce prejudices. In the long term, we aim to contribute to peacebuilding efforts.
Our project aims to train dialogue moderators from Ukraine and Germany, who will then lead dialogue sessions in day-to day places. To date, we have conducted two training sessions to practice the method of democratic dialogue, focusing on addressing and debunking anti-Ukrainian myths. Since then, the participants have hosted multiple dialogue events in diverse, everyday settings, including city festivals, universities, open public spaces, and even at the Zukunftsforum in Leipzig. Despite varying experiences, one constant remains: participants across all settings are open to engage, share, and discuss, even when opinions diverge.
The democratic dialogue method has proven to be an effective approach for fostering respectful conversations on complex, polarized topics, helping to sustain dialogue and understanding. Our goal is to reach individuals who might not typically attend educational events, thereby creating new pathways for social cohesion.
The project is accompanied by social-psychological research in collaboration with the University of Marburg, which examines subjective perceptions of social cohesion in eastern Germany. Using the innovative Q-Sort methodology, this research provides valuable insights into how individuals understand and experience social cohesion.
Project Goals
- Engaging in democratic dialogue
- Fostering social cohesion
- Combating disinformation and Fake news
- Deconstructing myths surrounding the Russian invasion of Ukraine
Target Group(s)
People of all ages from Chemnitz and Zwickau
Planned Outcomes/Achievements
- Moderated exchange on controversial topics among different people
- Training of dialogue moderators
- Debunking misinformation and myths regarding the Russian invasion of Ukraine