Demographic Change

Asset Publisher

WavebreakMediaMicro / stock.adobe.com

Demographic Change

Cohesion in times of social change

News

Nothing is as constant as Change.

Heraclitus of Ephesus, philosopher, 535-475 BC

Asset Publisher

At a glance

Since the start of the 1970s, death rates have exceeded birth rates in Germany. Immigration alone is to thank for the fact that the Federal Republic of Germany’s population has remained stable to this day.
The low birth rate is increasingly becoming a problem for politics and society. It confronts the German social and health system with major challenges.
The problem of an ageing society is being afforded more importance not only in Germany, but also in many European countries and various regions around the world.
The Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung examines the complex aspects of demographic change and its analyses consider how the welfare state can be designed in a way that is sustainable and fair for all generations.

Content

1. Politics and society face major challenges

2. The global population is ageing

3. A question of social cohesion

4. Our offers and projects on the topic

5. Publications, events and media contributions on the topic

Scarcely any social phenomenon has such numerous and long-lasting effects on society as demographic change. From ageing and shrinking of the population, new forms of coexistence between generations and with people from different cultural backgrounds, through to structural changes such as the depopulation of entire rural areas and cities. Demographic change raises many questions about different social and economic aspects.

Politics and society face major challenges

Since the early 1970s., the death rate has exceeded the number of births in Germany. It is thanks to the immigration of ethnic German emigrants and (ethnic German) re-settlers, guest workers, refugees and skilled workers that the number of people living in the federal territory has not decreased over the past decades.

Nevertheless, the low birth rate increasingly results in ageing society and, especially due to the baby boomer generation already going into retirement, Germany’s social and health care system faces serious challenges.

This raises various questions: How can the German welfare state be made sustainable and fair for all generations? What legislative adjustments will be necessary? Or quite generally: What is the glue that holds our society together even in times of demographic change?

The global population is ageing

What is more, this phenomenon of a declining birth rate and ensuing ageing of society does not only affect Germany, but occurs in various regions across Europe and throughout the world. How are other countries affected by demographic change, and what strategies are being pursued abroad to deal with demographic challenges? Which approaches can Germany learn from?

A question of social cohesion

In order to deal with such issues, the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung has established the division “Demographic Change” in the Department for “Social Cohesion”. In order to represent different aspects of this broad topic area, cooperation increasingly takes place across departments and close involvement is sought with the country offices.

Our offers and projects on the topic

Event series

Demographic change poses great challenges for our society, which also result in the generations drifting apart. A meaningful, compulsory activity that offers individual development and skills acquisition opportunities could strengthen social bonding and social cohesion again. Against this background, the Konrad-Adenauer-Foundation has created the event series “ChancenZeit”, in which we would like to lead the discourse about a mandatory year of society.

ChancenZeit – together for society

Please click here to view the contents.

Or adjust your cookie settings under privacy policy.

ChancenZeit – together for society

Street survey for the social year
(only in German)

YouTube, onlinekas

The Russian war of aggression in Ukraine led to an intensified discussion in Germany about the introduction of general conscription. As a result, the CDU decided at its 35th federal party conference to campaign for a mandatory “society year”. However, this idea is controversial and has been met with objections and concerns.

One solution could be to make the time frame more flexible and emphasize the individual opportunities and benefits of a year of service. In order to enable a balanced dialogue about advantages and disadvantages as well as possible alternatives, the Konrad-Adenauer-Foundation organizes nationwide events under the motto “ChancenZeit – together for society”.

Learn more about ChancenZeit

Asset Publisher

Contact

Natalie Klauser

Demographic change and integration policy

natalie.klauser@kas.de +49 30 26996-3746

Facts and Findings

shutterstock / Jorm S

Gemeinsam vereinsamt? – Einsamkeit als gesamtgesellschaftliche Herausforderung

Analyse des Positionspapiers der CDU/CSU-Bundestagsfraktion, Ansätze anderer Parteien und Strategien europäischer Länder zur Bekämpfung von Einsamkeit

March 25, 2021

read now

Topic page “Democracy needs Participation”

A main topic of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung