“Between the Elections”: A Fishbowl Discussion on Hopes, Fears, and What's at Stake

“Between Elections” is a moderated fishbowl discussion led by Nine-Christine Müller (Ostwärts) and Khaldun Al-Saadi about the impact political campaigns have on people’s everyday lives—beyond the headlines, platforms, and clear-cut stances.

The central question is: What actually happens between elections?
The focus is not on extreme polarization, but on the broad middle of society: people who are uncertain, tired, worried, hopeful, or angry—and who often have no place to express these ambivalences.

The format creates exactly this space: an open “fishbowl” discussion for 30–60 participants, without a panel and without the traditional talk show format. An inner circle with an open chair allows for spontaneous participation; everyone sits on equal footing.

The discussion will be moderated by Nine-Christine Müller, who, through “Ostwärts,” creates spaces for dialogue on identity and social narratives, and Khaldun Al-Saadi, a moderator and expert on social cohesion with experience in conflict and dialogue processes (including the NSU documentation project and the Initiative Offene Gesellschaft e.V.).

The discussion is structured around three prompts:

What worries me? – a personal starting point without the pressure to analyze
What do I hope for—and from whom? – shifting from emotion to perspective and action
What do I take away—and what will I do? – an honest conclusion without the obligation to resolve issues

The goal is not consensus, but rather a visible acceptance of nuances: uncertainty, contradiction, and openness should be allowed to coexist on equal footing with clear positions.

The target audience includes politically interested individuals without an activist background, those seeking answers, younger generations, as well as education and media professionals.

Following the event, a separate podcast will be produced for “Ostwärts: Conversations on East German Identities” (approx. 30–45 minutes). This will serve to delve deeper into the content and increase public visibility, without recording the conversation itself.