Thuringia’s Bold Experiment: Citizens Shape Foreign Policy Through Democracy

What if everyday people—not just politicians—crafted foreign policy? Thuringia’s four-year experiment puts power in the hands of its silent majority. The clock starts in **March 2023**.

, and Administrator

2025 December 25 . 9:15 AM

1 min read

In this picture, we see few people standing and few are seated on the chair and we see a man... — In this picture, we see few people standing and few are seated on the chair and we see a man standing at a podium and speaking with the help of a microphone and we see couple of posters to the stands and couple of flags on the back.

200 Participants, Four Regions: Citizens' Council Starts in March - Thuringia’s Bold Experiment: Citizens Shape Foreign Policy Through Democracy

Thuringia is launching a Citizens' Bank Assembly on Peace and Diplomacy in March 2023. The project will bring together 200 randomly selected residents to discuss foreign policy and offer recommendations to policymakers. Organisers hope to amplify the voices of the so-called 'silent majority' on issues of global peace.

The assembly will run until late 2027, with initial meetings starting in March 2023. Further workshops are planned for summer 2026 and spring 2027. Participants will explore the theme of peace and diplomacy while shaping their own agenda and outcomes.

The Institute for Democratic Participation and Civil Society (IDZ) in Jena has been awarded the contract for implementation. Its responsibilities include selecting participants, providing scientific support, and overseeing the process. The state has allocated around €250,000 from its budget to fund the initiative. Unlike traditional policy forums, this assembly will operate with minimal predefined rules. Instead, the 200 residents—drawn from four regions of Thuringia—will decide their own approach and conclusions.

The assembly’s recommendations will be directed at policymakers. Its extended timeline allows for in-depth discussion over several years. The project marks an attempt to involve ordinary citizens in shaping foreign policy debates.