Bertelsmann Stiftung "Democracy"

Algorithms in election campaigns: A study by the University of Potsdam and the Bertelsmann Stiftung shows an imbalance in the visibility of political parties in young people's social media feeds

Mon, 03 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0100

It has never been so easy for politicians to get attention in the everyday life of voters, as these days through social media. But what young people see about politics in their social media feeds is determined by platform algorithms. The study “Digitised, politicised, polarised?” (in German “Digitalisiert, politisiert, polarisiert?”) shows that algorithms play videos from parties at both ends of the political spectrum more frequently, while posts from the political center appear less often in feeds. Even if centrist parties post more frequently in comparison, they are less visible in feeds. To ensure the integrity of future elections, there needs to be a social and political discourse on the role of social media platforms in times of digital election campaigns.

SHORTCUT 13 – September 2025

Tue, 22 Apr 2025 16:58:12 +0200

Diverse Citizen Participation:

For an Inclusive Democracy

How to defend Europe without risking another euro crisis

Fri, 21 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0100

Europe needs to massively increase its defense spending. We explain how to durably do so without stoking market fears.

Three Priorities for a Meaningful EU-UK Reset

Mon, 03 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0100

Improved EU-UK relations could strengthen European unity in a time of geopolitical upheaval and shifting alliances. Yet realizing this opportunity at the first joint Summit in 2025 is far from a done deal.

SHORTCUT 12 – December 2024

Tue, 03 Dec 2024 10:51:16 +0100

Citizen participation as a public debate

The "Forum against Fakes" project

Eastern Europe and the Balkan – Pioneers for more Participation

Tue, 22 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0200

National ministry officials and representatives from civil society out of nine countries, Albania, Armenia, Czechia, Greece, Lithuania, Moldova, Serbia, Turkey and UK, came together in a two-day workshop in Strasbourg, to learn about the functioning and concrete method of citizens’ assemblies. The workshop “Citizens’ Assemblies – how to start?” was organised by the Council of Europe and Bertelsmann Stiftung. The focus of the capacity-building was on conveying quality principles of citizens’ assemblies, practical examples and the beginnings of a specific project plan

623,000 online votes: strong response to the recommendations of the “Forum against Fakes”

Fri, 06 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0200

There has been wide public support for the recommendations of the Citizens’ Panel “Forum against Fakes” on how to deal with disinformation: in the final online participation phase, more than 200,000 citizens cast 623,000 votes on 28 recommendation proposals of the Citizens’ Panel “Forum against Fakes”. The online participants’ rating of the measures was predominantly positive.

Eyes on the Prize: Shifts in EU interests require a reassessment of relations with the United Kingdom

Thu, 20 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0200

The electoral year of 2024 is an opportunity to reset a relationship that will be crucial for Europe's security.

Navigating the Future of European Cohesion Policy: Challenges and Trade-Offs

Thu, 13 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0200

European Cohesion Policy is at a crossroads, facing unprecedented scrutiny and debate about its relevance and direction in a rapidly changing world. Designed to improve economic, social and territorial conditions across Europe, this policy now confronts new global priorities and fiscal constraints. In our new policy paper Quo vadis, Cohesion Policy? European Regional Development at a Crossroads, we explore the current state and future prospects of Cohesion Policy, highlighting the trade-offs that fuel the ongoing debate.

Germany goes to the polls: How can we combat disinformation?

Wed, 05 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0200

In the Bertelsmann Stiftung’s project “Forum against Fakes. Together for a strong democracy”, more than 120 citizens have devised 15 recommendations and 28 measures for dealing with disinformation. Now everyone in Germany is invited to vote on the results.