Cuts in democracy projects: Federal government cuts funding for anti-racism center

The federal government continues to diligently put projects from the social sector and the promotion of democracy on the financial hit list. The “Living Democracy” program, which has existed since 2015 and is being funded to the tune of around 190 million euros this year, is being put to the test. However, Federal Education Minister Karin Prien (CDU) has initiated a restructuring of the federal program. This also means that funding for around 200 projects will expire at the end of the year.

The Information and Documentation Center for Anti-Racism (IDA) runs an accompanying program for “Living Democracy”. Now the center is also losing further institutional funding: the association's funds from the Ministry of Family Affairs' children and youth plan are being terminated. This emerges from the answer to a written question from the left-wing Bundestag member Maik Brückner, which is available to the taz. The deputy chairwoman of IDA, Ronja Inhoff, confirms to taz that the framework agreement has been terminated.

The association, founded in 1990, is the central service center for youth associations in Germany that deal with the topics of racism, right-wing extremism and discrimination. Although IDA can also be supported as a supporting member, a large part of the funding has so far come from funds from the Federal Ministry for Education, Family, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMBFSFJ). These will no longer apply from January 1, 2027.

This means that work at the federal level is no longer guaranteed, says Inhoff. This applies in particular to advising and supporting youth associations when dealing with racism and right-wing extremism.

IDA also offers various workshops, lectures and seminars to impart knowledge. This also includes the “Diversity Media Library”, where interested parties can find numerous materials for school or extracurricular education. These include topics such as (anti-)feminism, anti-Semitism, online hatred, right-wing extremism, conspiracy narratives and much more. The “Diversity Media Library” is funded by the “Living Democracy” project. Next year this will no longer be able to continue as before, says Inhoff.

As of next year, only the IDA-NRW offshoots and the Rhineland Victim Advice Center will be secured - the funding for these offers will come from elsewhere. They want to secure these structures. Otherwise, the club faces major questions about the future and wants to try to rebuild the structures, including through diversifying financing. The termination of the framework agreement is “difficult to digest” and “after more than 30 years of partnership, it is also worrying for other clubs like ours,” says Inhoff.

“Karin Prien is secretly putting the red pen on projects that educate children and young people about racism, anti-Semitism, the NSU and queer hostility, and is doing everything to make them even more susceptible to right-wing extremist narratives,” criticizes Maik Brückner. "First the queer youth association Lambda, now the information and documentation center for anti-racism work, both important providers in child and youth work - always with the justification of balance and broad impact. This is how you depoliticize an entire generation."

The BMBFSFJ had previously stopped funding the queer youth network Lambda at the end of the year. Lambda is a non-profit organization that advocates for the rights of a particularly vulnerable group.

Queer people are exposed to anti-queer violence, are threatened and have an increased risk of suicide. Lambda writes in a press release that requests for advice are continuing to increase and more young people are turning to them in acute crises. In order to ensure queer youth association work beyond 2026, Lambda has founded its own foundation. The Antiracism Information and Documentation Center also offers information on queerness and anti-queer sentiment.