Democracy is under pressure due to a significant rise in far-right extremist and populist movements: the almost unbroken rise in election results for far-right parties at the local, state, and federal levels, a growing prevalence of misanthropic attitudes among segments of the population, and the increasing visibility and organizational strength of far-right movements and circles—particularly in rural areas—are converging to create a situation in which, in particular, actors working for emancipation and the promotion of democracy are coming under pressure. Against this backdrop, mobile counseling services take on particular significance.

The Kulturbüro Sachsen e.V. (KBS) https://kulturbuero-sachsen.de/arbeitsbereiche/mobile-beratung played a key role in developing the mobile counseling approach and has been providing continuous mobile counseling services in the Free State of Saxony since 2001. As an outreach-based, flexible, and low-threshold form of expert counseling, Mobile Counseling is aimed at individuals as well as cultural and civil society initiatives of all kinds, and actors from business, education, administration, or politics. It provides counseling in dealing with right-wing extremism, racism, anti-Semitism, and other notions of inequality with the aim of strengthening a democratic culture in everyday life. Mobile Advisory Teams (MBT) help to counter right-wing extremist and right-wing populist dynamics on the ground, regain the capacity to act, and strengthen local democratic actors.

TRAWOS conducted a scientific study of the work of the Mobile Advisory Service on behalf of Kulturbüro Sachsen e. V. As part of the qualitative-reconstructive interview study, the professional challenges and strategies, as well as the potential and impacts of this advisory work, were analyzed in particular.

Schaller, Jan/Jukschat, Nadine (2026): Report on the Academic Monitoring of the Mobile Advisory Service of Kulturbüro Sachsen e. V., Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences, TRAWOS Institute for Transformation, Housing, and Social Spatial Development. https://doi.org/10.25366/2026.108