Filmpremiere: "UNTEN – Im Ortsverein", mit Gespräch zu „Parteien und Partizipation“

In the organizer's words:

Since reunification, the number of members of German parties has fallen enormously: whereas a good 2.4 million Germans were members of the CDU, CSU, SPD, Greens, FDP and Left Party (or PDS) at the time, only around half are now members of these parties and the AfD. Although there was a temporary movement in the opposite direction in 2024, the trend remains clear: fewer and fewer people are committing themselves to parties. The category of "people's parties" seems less and less appropriate.

However, Article 21 of the Basic Law states: "The parties shall participate in the formation of the political will of the people". But if fewer and fewer people are members of political parties and even fewer people are actively involved in them, what about this important task?

Where does the decline come from? Why are there fewer and fewer citizens who want to make a difference in and with political parties? And who is still the so-called "base" of the parties?

Director Jan-Christoph Schultchen has devoted himself to these questions. In his documentary "UNTEN - Im Ortsverein", he follows an SPD local association in Hamburg-Bergedorf as an example. It's about both the big and the small issues: Christmas parties, anniversary celebrations and federal politics.

The statutes of the SPD say about local associations, sub-districts and districts: "The political decision-making of the party takes place from the bottom up in this structure". But how are the people at the grassroots level, "at the bottom"?

The director himself believed: In the local association, you meet people who know how to "make things happen and get things done". What he found, however, were rigid rituals, predetermined opinions, rules of procedure and statutes with lists of speakers and deadlines for meetings. But also: people who are committed and dedicated, young and old, to the big and small issues.

issues. Between crosswalks and global security policy, there was hardly a topic that went undiscussed. The members get involved. They put up posters and spend a lot of their free time on local politics without reward or thanks. On the contrary, they are met with ingratitude and wild insinuations at their information stands and online.

The question remains: what motivates these people to commit themselves to society, despite the headwind? What do we learn from this about democratic parties and how they need to change in order to become more attractive again? Ultimately: how can we create more democracy again?

We are delighted to invite you to the premiere of the film and to discuss the topics afterwards with, among others: Jan-Christoph Schultchen (director), Melanie Leonhard (co-chair of the SPD Hamburg and Senator for Economic Affairs), Lenka Alzbeta Brodbeck (Bündnis 90/Die Grünen Bezirksfraktion Hamburg-Bergedorf) and Julia Reuschenbach (political scientist).

Moderation: Christine Strotmann (Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung).

Organizational notes:

- Participation is free of charge.
- Registration via the "Register" button on our website at https://www.fes.de/lnk/premiereunten is required. We will send a confirmation of registration upon successful registration.
- The venue is barrier-free.

Sponsored by the State Center for Political Education of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg.