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The civic engagement of citizens for the common good and the activities of civil society organizations are key structural components of civil society. The research carried out by our team focuses on both of these dimensions: first, we analyze the current structures, resources, and immediate effects of the civic engagement of citizens, and, second, we investigate the boundaries and long-term effects of civic engagement and the activities of civil society organizations.

At the core of the institution of citizenship lies civic virtue and political participation. In the past years, there have been attempts to use technology to motivate good citizenship through the creation of a catalog of “good deeds.” Examples of good deeds include voting, assisting the elderly, seeking professional training, organizing cultural events, and undergoing self-employment workshops. According to this approach, local citizens should choose and implement a good deed from a municipal catalogue, which will be recorded and scored; based on the score, each citizen will receive a reward from a parallel catalogue of “municipal benefits.” Rewards may include free public transportation and bicycle rental, tickets to events, and reduced municipal housing.

In 2010, Stuttgart witnessed a major protest wave against the construction of an underground railway station. Despite the local character of the conflict about “Stuttgart 21”, there has been nationwide news coverage of the protests and public debates about consequences for civic participation and the democratic culture in Germany. Journalists and other observers speculated about the social and demographic background of the protesters, about their motivations, and their self-perception as citizens. In a survey at one of the regular Monday demonstrations (N=858) these questions were addressed in a systematic and reliable way.

The project runs for two years (2011 – 2013) and is funded by the Hans Böckler Foundation. It is based on the changes that occur in the context of a neoliberal societal orientation, in particular, and on changed statehood in civil society organizations. Hence, we are investigating whether civil society organizations are offering more services – in competition with other providers – and whether their function as service providers is fulfilled at the expense of their civic function.