Since 2002, Klein has been the head of the Berlin-based National Network for Civil Society.

DW: The citizens' initiative, "New Start for Duisburg," successfully campaigned for the right to oust Mayor Adolf Sauerland after the 2010 Love Parade disaster, in which 21 people died due to overcrowding at a music festival. Can Sauerland's forced exit change the political landscape in Europe?

Ansgar Klein: The case will give other German states the firepower to bring about changes to the constitution that will allow their citizens to oust the mayor. In some states, that right already exists. The successful ousting of Sauerland shows quite clearly that democracy is not just about electing representatives. There should be a possibility to get rid of them in special cases of misconduct.

Will this case serve as a precedent?

If a political representative shirks responsibility to a certain degree, then there should be a way to oust him or her. In this case, the mayor was adamant he would remain in office, so, yes, I think this is a contribution to political culture, which shows that those who carry responsibility in our society are being watched carefully, and if they don't behave accordingly, they should be prepared to lose the people's vote.

Recently, we've had the Stuttgart 21 rail protests, we've had demonstrations in Frankfurt against noise pollution from the airport - is there a trend in Germany toward voting with your feet?

People have realized that the ballot is not the only way to express their opinions. No one [in the political arena] can count on voters just forgetting about things. On the other hand, we have to acknowledge that there is another side to the coin: the turnout for the vote in Duisburg wasn't very high. But the need for justification on the part of the elected representatives has increased. That's a new challenge for politicians - to be more responsible and transparent with decisions and their consequences.

How do the Germans rate in terms of participation?

Around 23 million people are active in the community in some way and around that many would like to become involved. Within Europe, that places Germany slightly above average. In terms of political involvement, the figure is a bit lower and comes in the shape of citizens' initiatives, protests and through supporting new movements like the Pirate Party.

I think our political system has been shaken by the current financial and euro crises and we need new solutions. There are interesting examples in some states: the state of Rhineland-Palatinate has just inaugurated a commission tasked with working out a bill that would allow citizens to have a share in bigger projects. It's designed to show that mediation is always an option.

How would you like to see participation strengthened in Germany?

Through the National Network for Civil Society, I'm involved in a new initiative for open governance, a worldwide initiative for participation and transparency and against corruption, which is led by the US and Brazil. Germany hasn't joined the initiative yet, and I would like us to join.

Also, democracy is not just about the right to vote, it's also about the right to be active, and that means being politically and socially involved. If we could support that more by providing the infrastructure for it, that would be a huge step. And we know that these discussions have been acknowledged and noticed in the political arena.

Interview: Friedel Taube / ng
Editor: Martin Kuebler