Now more than ever: The dispute over the German federal government’s budget draft, obligations due to acute crises such as the Ukraine war, economic downturn, and looming revenue losses due to the outcome of the US election seem to leave no room for social policy demands or visionary thinking. Yet it is precisely these crises that expose the dead ends of austerity politics: the rise of right-wing movements in parts of the country bears witness to the consequences of deep-seated insecurity and existential fears. Against this backdrop, open discussions and bold thinking about alternative futures are more urgent than ever. This is exactly what the Social Policy Conference in Dortmund sets out to achieve.
The Department of Applied Social Sciences at Fachhochschule Dortmund, in cooperation with the Freiburg Institute for Basic Income Studies (FRIBIS), the “Netzwerk Grundeinkommen Deutschland” (German Basic Income Network), and “BIEN Austria” (Basic Income Earth Network Austria), is organizing a workshop on “Bedingungsloses Grundeinkommen und Soziale Infrastruktur?!” (Universal Basic Income and Social Infrastructure?! Connections and Contradictions on the Path to a Sustainable Society).
Topic: Some advocate for universal financial security as a foundation for existence, participation, freedom of self-determination, and engagement in care work; others focus on access to education, health, transport, housing, energy, and political participation. Two approaches: Universal Basic Income (UBI) and Universal Basic Services (UBS) – two paths toward the same goals? Do they contradict or complement each other? Do both lead to a sustainable, future-oriented society? What would such a society look like? And how could such a transformation be initiated?
Objective: The workshop aims to introduce both concepts and discuss their strengths, weaknesses, connections, incompatibilities, and implementation paths. Both approaches will first be presented and critically examined at an academic level, relating them to associated debates (de-growth, everyday economics). Next, two popular political initiatives (Public Luxury, Care Revolution) will be presented and analyzed through the lens of their respective theories. Finally, the practical viability of these approaches will be tested using the example of homeless people’s living conditions and interests. The change of location from the university to the city district of Nordstadt represents a change in perspective: How could societal transformation succeed considering these approaches and ideas? What do the stakeholders themselves think?
Organizers: The workshop is hosted by Fachhochschule Dortmund in partnership with FRIBIS, the “Netzwerk Grundeinkommen Deutschland,” and BIEN Austria. Key participants from FRIBIS include Roland Blaschke, Margit Appel, Ute Fischer, and Gudrun Kaufmann from the FRIBIS Care Team.
Target Audience: The event is designed for master’s students, academic colleagues specializing in homelessness, other guests and cooperation partners, as well as the broader urban community and civil society initiatives.
The event takes place at Fachhochschule Dortmund, with an excursion to the city district of Nordstadt to promote a change in perspective and dialogue between the university and the urban community.
