Fifth Round of Exchanges 2025
The transformation of societies and decline of social cohesion is a shared challenge across the Atlantic. Where social erosion prevails, societies fail. To address these issues, the Laboratories of Democracy Initiative provides a platform for state and provincial legislators from Germany, the U.S., and Canada to exchange innovative ideas and best practices which are necessary to mitigate negative impacts and positively shape policy-making. In addition to questions of state leadership, subnational diplomacy, and transatlantic cooperation, the fifth round of exchanges is centered around the core issue of social cohesion and the power of belonging.
Aspen Institute Germany will host two 5-day in-person meetings between German, U.S., and Canadian state and provincial legislators as part of its annual “Laboratories of Democracy” program. The first of the delegation trips will take place from February 25 to March 1, 2025, in Dresden, Saxony, Germany, and the second trip will take place from May 13 to 17, 2025, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Between December 2024 and July 2025 a range of interactive virtual sessions will be held.
CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: Labs 2025
The Aspen Institute Germany invites state and provincial legislators from Germany, the U.S. and Canada to apply for the 2025 cohort of the Laboratories of Democracy Initiative.
Interested state and provincial legislators are asked to fill out this form by Monday, September 30, 2024.
Eligibility and Application Process
Applicants for this exchange program must:
- be able to actively participate in all components of the virtual and in-person exchange,
- be German, U.S. or Canadian state/provincial legislators (open to members of all German Länder, U.S. states, and Canadian provinces and territories),
- be willing to participate in the development and publication of multipartisan policy recommendations,
- have sufficient knowledge of English.
- have an interest in transatlantic exchange and the topics of social cohesion and/or education, migration, and economic equality.
Promising applicants will be asked to participate in a short Zoom interview to discuss motivation and expectations for the program. From each nationality, ten participants will be selected based on their interest, background, availability, and suitability for the program.
The project is supported by the Transatlantic Program of the Federal Republic of Germany, funded by the European Recovery Program (ERP) of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK).
