Bertelsmann Stiftung
Through its projects, studies and events, the Bertelsmann Stiftung stimulates debate and provides impetus for social change. Serving the public good and having a sustainable impact are the fundamental principles underlying its activities. The foundation’s initiatives not only generate solutions, they also provide empirically sound guidance for a broad public.
Empower and inspire the Next generation
Understand trust, future expectations and concerns among young people
Stimulate debate in Germany with a research publication
Challenge and solutions
Could you please tell us a bit about your role? What are your goals and Bertelsmann Stiftung goals?
I am a Senior Project Manager and advocate for the empowerment of young people for a sustainable future at the Bertelsmann Stiftung. I talk to young people and explore opportunities for young people to participate in politics and society.
What was your initial goal for the project and why did you choose Glocalities?
At the Bertelsmann Stiftung, we have a project called "Young People and Society”. It looks at how to empower and inspire young people to get involved in civil society. In the course of our project work, we discovered that young people often do not feel heard and seen - especially not by politicians. So, we wanted to explore their trust in institutions. But we were also interested in how they see the future and what issues concern them. Glocalities has some very interesting data on this question that can be compared over time, across countries, and generations.
How did Glocalities help you practically?
From the first discussions with the Glocalities staff, it was clear that they had a very good understanding of what we were talking about and how they could put their wealth of data to work on this issue.
What is the conclusion/insight that stood out to you the most from the research and project?
The analyses of the data show that around half of young adults surveyed in Germany lack trust in the government (52%) and parliament (45%). However, there's notable confidence in democracy and the European Union, with around two-thirds expressing trust in these institutions. Many young people express concerns about social justice, human rights, and climate change, alongside widespread pessimism about the future. About half anticipate worsening conditions, particularly regarding climate change and living standards. This lack of trust in government and pessimism about the future suggests skepticism regarding governmental efficacy in addressing major societal issues, a troubling trend.
Which actions did you take after the research was concluded?
We have published the results to stimulate public debate in Germany. This was quite successful. There was a lot of public interest in the data and the insights gained from it.
How do you evaluate the Glocalities services?
Did these meet your expectations?The collaboration with Glocalities was very good. Both on a professional and personal level. Glocalities is very service-oriented and reliable. Short-term changes or requests on our part were always handled very quickly. Even after the contract had expired.
