Reconnecting Wealth and Society: A Proposal for Solidarity Councils in Germany

Paula Schwarz
17 minutes ago
2 min read

In recent years, Germany has become a country of strong institutions—but weakening social connection. While wealth has concentrated at the top and hardship persists at the bottom, the spaces in which these realities meet have largely disappeared.

This blog post outlines a proposal I am currently developing and preparing to present in the Bundestag: the creation of Industry-Based Solidarity Councils—formal bodies where economic success is paired with civic responsibility, dialogue, and direct social investment.

Why Solidarity Needs Structure

Germany already redistributes wealth through taxes and welfare systems. Yet redistribution alone does not create recognition, dignity, or mutual understanding.

Many people at the bottom of society feel invisible.

Many people at the top feel disconnected, blamed, or reduced to financial roles.

Solidarity Councils are designed to address this gap by creating structured, recurring spaces where responsibility is not abstract, but relational.

What Are Solidarity Councils?

Solidarity Councils would be organized by industry—for example technology, finance, real estate, energy, media, or manufacturing.

Each council would bring together:

High-net-worth individuals and families
Owners or executives of successful companies
Independent social-impact experts
Non-voting civil society observers

The goal is not charity, but shared responsibility aligned with economic success.

A Clear, Modest Commitment

Companies with an annual turnover of more than €1 million would be invited to participate and to pledge 0.01% of their annual revenue to a dedicated Solidarity Fund within their industry council.

This amount is:

Small enough to be broadly acceptable
Large enough to create real impact at scale
Symbolic of a new social contract between success and responsibility

Transparency and public reporting would be built into the system.

Bottom-Up Project Funding

A central pillar of this proposal is that projects are submitted directly by people from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

Not only large NGOs—but individuals, informal groups, and local initiatives.

Projects are evaluated not only on efficiency, but on:

Social value created
Empowerment and long-term impact
Contribution to dignity, visibility, and participation
Potential for learning and replication

This shifts the question from “What do we fund?” to “Whose voice is finally being heard?”

Dialogue as a Democratic Act

Council members are expected not only to fund, but to listen and engage.

Where possible, project initiators are invited into the deliberation process. This creates:

Mutual understanding
De-polarisation
A human connection across social strata

Solidarity becomes something experienced, not outsourced.

A Complement, Not a Replacement

This proposal does not aim to replace Germany’s welfare state. It is meant to complement existing systems by re-introducing direct human connection into social responsibility.

The long-term goal is cultural as much as economic:

A society where prosperity is visibly linked to responsibility—and where people feel seen across class boundaries.

Invitation to Engage

This proposal will soon be opened for public and parliamentary discussion. I welcome critique, questions, and collaboration—from business leaders, policymakers, and citizens alike.

Solidarity works best when it is designed together.