Republik21

Republik21 (stylised as REPUBLIK21 e.V. – Denkfabrik für neue bürgerliche Politik, short: Denkfabrik R21) is a German think tank founded in 2021 by historian Andreas Rödder, former federal minister Kristina Schröder and other initiators. It describes itself as a "think tank for a new civic politics in Germany and Europe" and aims to develop concepts for a new "bürgerlich" (civic-conservative) politics and bring them into public debate. The organisation is registered as a non-profit association (eingetragener Verein) and is financed according to its own statements from its own funds and donations. From 2024 to 2026 the FDP politician Martin Hagen served as managing director; since 2026 the former FDP general secretary Steffen Dähne has held that role. Republik21 sees its mission in strengthening political approaches based on freedom, personal responsibility, pluralism, the rule of law and the social market economy. It seeks to initiate debates, develop strategies and concepts for future challenges, network people from politics, business, science, media and culture, and inspire young people to engage politically. Among its initiators and advisory board members are members of the CDU and FDP. The think tank organises regular discussion events, runs the podcast "Frei heraus – der R21-Podcast für neue bürgerliche Politik", and maintains an expert council on climate and energy policy. It also runs a blog project titled "Initiative für einen besseren ÖRR" analysing political reporting in German public broadcasting. Republik21 has attracted media attention and controversy. Its chairman Andreas Rödder has described the so-called "Brandmauer" (firewall) against the far-right AfD as an "iron cage" and advocates a "conditioned willingness to talk" with the party on specific issues. Media have classified the institute as liberal-conservative, later as right-conservative or far right. In the 2025 federal budget, up to 250,000 euros were earmarked as institutional funding for Republik21, and from the 2026 budget year a total of two million euros (500,000 annually) is planned as a four-year project funding from the federal budget. A legal opinion commissioned by the campaign organisation Campact from a Frankfurt law firm raised "considerable constitutional concerns" about this state funding, arguing that Republik21 acts "in essential parts factually like a party" without being one, and questioning its non-profit status. In the media, Republik21 has been described variously: Ferdinand Otto in Die Zeit called it "a kind of opinion start-up"; Gregor Mayntz in the Rheinische Post said it drummed for "a revival of the centre"; Boris Herrmann in Süddeutsche Zeitung labelled it a "self-help group for conservatives"; and Oliver Maksan in the NZZ called its protagonists "culture warriors of the civic centre". The think tank continues to publish studies, press releases and podcast episodes on topics such as national debt, energy transition and freedom of expression.

Republik21 was founded in 2021 by historian Andreas Rödder, former federal minister Kristina Schröder and other initiators as a registered association (e.V.) under the name REPUBLIK21 e.V. – Denkfabrik für neue bürgerliche Politik. The think tank emerged in the context of a perceived need for a new civic-conservative political voice in Germany. From 2024 to 2026, the FDP politician Martin Hagen served as managing director. Since 2026, the former FDP general secretary Steffen Dähne has been managing director. The organisation describes itself as a "think tank for a new civic politics in Germany and Europe" and aims to strengthen political approaches based on freedom, personal responsibility, pluralism, the rule of law and the social market economy. It organises discussion events, runs a podcast titled "Frei heraus – der R21-Podcast für neue bürgerliche Politik", and maintains an expert council on climate and energy policy. It also runs a blog project called "Initiative für einen besseren ÖRR" analysing political reporting in public broadcasting. In the 2025 federal budget, up to 250,000 euros were earmarked as institutional funding for Republik21. From the 2026 budget year, a total of two million euros (500,000 annually) is planned as a four-year project funding from the federal budget. A legal opinion commissioned by the campaign organisation Campact from a Frankfurt law firm raised "considerable constitutional concerns" about this state funding, arguing that Republik21 acts "in essential parts factually like a party" without being one, and questioning its non-profit status. Media reception has been mixed. Ferdinand Otto in Die Zeit called it "a kind of opinion start-up"; Gregor Mayntz in Rheinische Post said it drummed for "a revival of the centre"; Boris Herrmann in Süddeutsche Zeitung labelled it a "self-help group for conservatives"; Oliver Maksan in NZZ called its protagonists "culture warriors of the civic centre". The think tank continues to publish studies, press releases and podcast episodes on topics such as national debt, energy transition and freedom of expression.

• 2026

  Steffen Dähne becomes managing director; two million euros planned as four-year project funding from the federal budget.

• 2025

  Up to 250,000 euros earmarked as institutional funding in the federal budget.

• 2024

  Martin Hagen becomes managing director.

• 2021

  Founded by Andreas Rödder, Kristina Schröder and other initiators.

Think tank for a new civic-conservative politics; self-described as critical, independent and relevant.

• R21-Konferenz

  Annual conference.

• Frei heraus – der R21-Podcast

  Podcast for new civic politics.

• Initiative für einen besseren ÖRR

  Blog analysing public broadcasting.

• Expert council on climate and energy policy

  Criticises German climate policy as expensive and inefficient; advocates EU emissions trading.

• Initiative für einen besseren ÖRR

1. 1REPUBLIK21 e.V. - Denkfabrik für neue bürgerliche Politikdenkfabrik-r21.de
2. 2Republik21 - Wikipediade.wikipedia.org
3. 3Republic21 - Wikidatawikidata.org