Professor Holger Magel on Quality of Life, Cohesion and Democracy
Aktuelles, Magel |
In an interview with the Bayerische Staatszeitung, Prof. Dr. Holger Magel, TUM Emeritus of Excellence, former Professor of Land Consolidation and Rural Development at TUM and Honorary President of the Bavarian Academy for Rural Areas, comments on the findings of the study. He argues that quality of life cannot be measured by statistical indicators alone. Factors such as civic engagement, a sense of belonging, social cohesion and local responsibility are just as important as the availability of infrastructure in shaping the attractiveness of cities and municipalities.
Magel emphasises the importance of an active civil society for social cohesion and democratic culture. A willingness to take responsibility for the common good, he argues, is a key prerequisite for a vibrant democracy and a cohesive society. Strengthening rural areas, fostering cooperation between urban and rural communities, and encouraging civic engagement are, in his view, among the key challenges for the future.
The full interview was published in the Bayerische Staatszeitung on 5 June 2026 under the title “Wenn wir nichts tun, machen wir uns schuldig” (“If We Do Nothing, We Make Ourselves Guilty”).
