Public office, civil society, and the problem of increasing violence
Politics is what turns a random group of people into an organized society. This is hard work and requires dedicated citizens and skilled “brokers” who aim for the common good in whatever they do. Holding public office has always been tough. More recently, though, it can mean dealing with aggressive heckling and even physical violence, as with the attack on a German lead SPD candidate in the upcoming European elections, or the beating of Nancy Pelosi’s husband with a hammer in his own home. What would politics look like if there were no one more prepared to do the job? And what needs to be done regarding extremists-turned-politicians who prepare to take over where others chose to leave?
These are real challenges and difficult questions that need answers now – so we can protect democracy down the road. And make sure politics remains what it is meant to be: a constructive struggle for the best idea.
During this discussion, we debated these questions with Jasmin Miah, Head of Berlin Office at Local Government for Sustainability (ICLAE), and Marco Morales, Community Engagement and Advocacy Program Manager at North Sound Accountable Community of Health (ACH).
This episode is part of our trans-Atlantic talk series “Across the Pond” in collaboration with Open Embassy for Democracy (OPEM). Curated and moderated by Tobias Endler.
Biographies
Jasmin Miah is Head of Berlin Office at Local Government for Sustainability (ICLAE). She is passionate about politics, sustainable development and creating livable cities. In her work, she is particularly focused on the topics of gender and feminism, climate and environmental justice, and governance and advocacy work. She helps cities and organizations work toward achieving their sustainability and climate targets. She focuses on Berlin, German and EU politics.
Marco Morales is a Community Engagement and Advocacy Program Manager at North Sound Accountable Community of Health (ACH) where he works with diverse stakeholders to advance health equity and social justice in the region. He leads the development and implementation of community engagement strategies, advocacy initiatives, and policy analysis to support ACH's vision and goals. He also facilitate collaboration and communication among community partners, policy makers, and health care providers to address the social determinants of health and health disparities.
In addition, he serves as an Equity Advisor at Puget Sound Energy (PSE) and an Instructor of Latinx Studies at Western Washington University. At PSE, he is part of the inaugural Equity Advisory Group that seeks perspectives from and broadens engagement with frontline communities of low-income people and BIPOC. At WWU, he teaches courses on Latinx history, culture, and migration in the U.S.
This event is part of a series of online talks with young voters from both sides of the Atlantic:
Across the Pond – Politics, Power, Participation
Young Voters Talk
Politicians are being attacked, elections are deemed “rigged”, democratic institutions are called into question, checks and balances seem to cause constant gridlock, and extremists are gaining ground… 2024 looks like an election year that seemingly doesn’t offer much hope for the future - neither in Europe, nor the United States. In this series, we will hear from young voters from both sides of the Atlantic who share their ideas about how to move forward. More…
