New podcast explains: This is how society works when there are conflicts!

New podcast explains: This is how society works when there are conflicts!

In the lively world of podcasts, there is something completely new that could stimulate discussion about social conflicts: The conflict academy ConflictA at Bielefeld University has launched an official podcast with “Bad of Discord – Conflicts Briefly Explained”. A listening experience that immerses us in different social issues in less than ten minutes in each episode was presented on October 28, 2025. The first episode highlights the diverse perceptions of conflict among the population and how these are shaped by different backgrounds.

Dr. Anna Christina Nowak, a dedicated research assistant at ConflictA, moderates the first episode, in which she presents findings from the so-called conflict monitor together with the interview partners Dirk Lampe and Nico Noltemeyer. This longitudinal survey, which included over 2,900 participants, shows interesting mood pictures. 50 percent of those surveyed say that they consider democracy in Germany to be unstable, while 73 percent believe that many conflicts can no longer be solved. One reason for this could be the perceived lack of cooperation in the federal government, which 70 percent see as the main factor in the conflict.

Current conflict issues on the table

The podcast episode presents a variety of conflict topics that are on people's minds. These include migration, right-wing extremism, healthcare and the effects of climate change. Particularly interesting: The perception of these topics varies greatly depending on the political orientation, age group or gender of the respondents. The issue of internal security is more important for voters of the AfD, CDU and FDP, while SPD supporters are more concerned with the issue of right-wing extremism. This differentiation shows that conflicts are not only heavily discussed on a social level, but also in the personal environment.

The next episode of the podcast will be published on November 1st and is dedicated to how society is coming to terms with the corona pandemic. A follow-up article will then deal with political participation in the energy transition and the “WissKON” project. The ConflictA has set itself the goal of bringing science, practice and the population together in order to create a better understanding of the causes and solutions of conflicts.

A long-term conflict research project

The Bielefeld ConflictA, part of the Institute for Interdisciplinary Conflict and Violence Research, is also supported by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research with a significant budget of 8 million euros until 2027. The conflict monitor, which provides a first comprehensive overview of intra-societal conflicts in Germany, will be updated annually in the future. The data collected - collected between November 21 and December 12, 2024 - should not only represent current feelings, but also act as a basis for analyzing future developments.

In order to get to the root of the issue, we can only hope that the “Zankorpfel” podcast will provide an incentive to focus more on social conflicts. At a time when discussing disagreements is particularly important, this podcast provides a welcome platform to constructively address these issues.

If you would like to find out more, you can access the episodes from the first of every month via popular streaming services. The data and research results are woven directly into the podcast to enrich the debates about our societal challenges. So if you want to expand your own understanding of conflicts, you should definitely listen!

For more information about the initiative and the podcast, visit the website Bielefeld University and idw online.