Jochen Wegner: What happened when we paired up thousands of strangers to talk politics

The transcript discusses the Europe Talks project, which encourages political discussions between strangers with differing opinions. It highlights stories of participants like Joanna and Christophe, and Tom and Niels, who engaged in meaningful debates. The project, initiated by Zeit Online, started as Germany Talks and expanded globally. It aims to bridge divides by facilitating face-to-face discussions, challenging filter bubbles, and promoting understanding. The initiative has seen significant participation and positive feedback, with plans for further expansion.

What motivated Joanna to travel over 1,000 kilometers?

• To participate in a sports event

• To visit a friend

• To have a political argument with a stranger

• To attend a conference

What is a significant challenge in political discussions today?

• Excessive political advertisements

• Lack of interest in politics

• Filter bubbles amplified by social media

• Too many political parties

What was the initial idea behind the Europe Talks project?

• A dating app for like-minded people

• A news reporting platform

• A 'Tinder for politics' to connect people with opposing views

• A social media platform for political debates

How did the Germany Talks project initially gather participants?

• Through social media ads

• By using Google Forms embedded in content

• Through direct mail invitations

• Via television commercials

What was a key outcome of the Germany Talks initiative?

• Participants often became friends despite differences

• A decrease in political discussions

• Increased political polarization

• A rise in political violence

What was a major concern before the Germany Talks meetings?

• Participants would not show up

• The topics would be too easy

• Discussions would be too short

• There would be too many participants

What was the purpose of expanding Germany Talks to My Country Talks?

• To limit participation to Germany

• To reduce the number of participants

• To create a secure platform for international events

• To focus only on local issues

Which countries participated in the Europe Talks initiative?

• 33 European countries

• Countries from all continents

• Only Germany and Poland

• Only the UK and Germany

What was a significant result of the discussions in Europe Talks?

• Increased distrust among participants

• No change in viewpoints

• Higher trust in society and converging viewpoints

• Participants stopped discussing politics

What is the ultimate goal of initiatives like Europe Talks?

• To increase political advertisements

• To foster face-to-face discussions and societal change

• To eliminate political discussions

• To create more political parties