The Importance of Social Cohesion and Democracy

While global challenges are addressed by national governments, increasingly subnational actors such as states, communities, and cities have needed to step up to take action when traditional nation-states have not been able to make progress due to political polarization and partisan gridlock. In the next German-American State-to-State event, legislators will discuss the future of social cohesion and democracy.

On both sides of the Atlantic, social cohesion serves as the glue that holds democratic societies together. When people feel connected to one another and work toward shared goals, democratic institutions gain resilience and legitimacy. In today’s climate of global uncertainty, strengthening social cohesion is not just desirable, it is essential to safeguarding democracy. Yet in recent years, social cohesion has weakened under the pressure of ever-accelerating transformation of societies. Both the United States and Germany navigate a world marked by polycrises, in which social divisions are deepening as political polarization and inequality grow. The result has been an unprecedented erosion of trust in democratic institutions and governance. In this context, state and Länder governments in both countries play a pivotal role. Their proximity to local communities and better understanding of the issues they face, equip subnational legislators with the means to effectively address the decline of social cohesion with policies reflecting local values and priorities. To build trust in democratic institutions, subnational legislators have the responsibility to produce policies that nurture social ties and community engagements at the local level.

Join us for an insightful discussion on October 13 between German and U.S. state legislators to highlight the role of states, cities, and local governments in fostering social cohesion, and promoting cross-border cooperation. The conversation will include Tom Brüntrup, MdL (CDU) State Parliament of North Rhine-Westphalia, Representative Lydia Glaize (D) Georgia House of Representatives, and Simone Strohmayr (SPD) Bavarian State Parliament.

Tom Brüntrup (CDU) was born in Bielefeld on May 11, 1997 and grew up there with two older brothers. After graduating from High School, he began his dual studies at the University of Applied Sciences for Finance in North Rhine-Westphalia which he successfully completed in 2018. While working at the North Rhine-Westphalia Finance Administration, he completed a part-time Master’s degree in Financial Management and Controlling at the University of Applied Sciences of Economics in 2022. In addition to his professional career, he has been politically active in the Christian Democratic Union since 2014. In 2020, he was elected to the Bielefeld City Council. Since then, he has been able to take on responsibility in the areas of digitalization, finance, environment and climate. Mr. Brüntrup has been a member of the state parliament of North Rhine-Westphalia since May 2022. He is the youngest member of the CDU parliamentary group and the second youngest member of parliament. His main areas of work are science, construction, housing and digitalization as well as family, children and youth. In his free time, it is important for him, to spend time with his family and friends. If possible, he uses the rowing machine, goes for a run, to the tennis court or plays golf.

Representative Lydia Glaize (D) is the current House Representative for District 67 in the Georgia House of Representatives. Rep. Glaize has been a formidable advocate for transformative change. With a deep commitment to her constituents, Rep. Glaize tenure is marked by significant legislative achievements and a steadfast dedication to addressing pivotal issues such as economic stability, healthcare accessibility, and quality education. Her journey in office is characterized by a tangible impact on the community, underscored by her proactive role in sponsoring 32 Community Bills and 3 Legislative Bills signed into law by the Governor in just one year. Rep. Glaize’s focus has always been on the core pillars of Youth, Education, Economy, Environmental Sustainability, and Seniors, exemplified by her influential positions on both the Education (K-12) and Higher Education Committees. Under her leadership, District 67 has seen progressive educational initiatives, including the successful Summer Reading Rewards Program and significant support for K-12 and Higher Education funding. Her role as the Chair of the Education Committee in the Fulton County Delegation and her appointment as the Education Chair by the Chairman of the GA Legislative Black Caucus further amplify her influence and dedication to education in the district.

Dr. Simone Strohmayr (SPD) was born on September 13th, 1967, is married and has three children (1992, 2000, 2009). After her studies in law in Augsburg and Munich, she finalized her doctoral thesis “Human Dignity and Penal Justice” in 1998. From 1996 to 2022, she worked as a lawyer in Cottbus, close to Berlin and Augsburg. In 1999, she joined the SPD party. In 2002, she was elected as city councilor of her hometown Stadtbergen/Bavaria. A year later, she was elected as a Member of the Bavarian Parliament. Since, she has worked in various committees of the Bavarian Parliament, such as the “Committee of Social Affairs” and the “Committee of Education”. In recent years, she has been concerned with good and modern education and school (systems) as well as questions of democracy. She is very engaged in gender issues, women empowerment and social affairs. Economic relationships and good working conditions are other important fields of her professional activities.  From 2021 till 2024, Dr. Strohmayr was responsible as Parliamentary Secretary for the Social Democratic Party (SPD) group in the Bavarian Parliament. She is involved as a volunteer in workers welfare (Arbeiterwohlfahrt – AWO Schwaben) where they run a Kindergarten and retirement homes. She is also involved in women movements and in international development cooperation