Emigration, immigration, and economic decline vie for dominance in the Ruhr region, which some call »structural change«. SPIEGEL TV sheds light on the growing impoverishment there and confronts those profiting from the hardship. The film »Brennpunkt Duisburg: Left behind and forgotten« by Thore Brüggemann depicts the harsh realities on the ground.
The Ruhr region, once the heart of German industry, faces massive challenges. Emigration of young people and immigration from other areas or countries exacerbate the economic decline. Many term this process »structural change«, but for those affected, it means impoverishment: social fraud and dilapidated scrap houses define the landscape.
SPIEGEL TV has captured this misery in a new documentary. »Brennpunkt Duisburg: Left behind and forgotten«, produced by Thore Brüggemann, portrays overlooked neighborhoods in Duisburg. The film illustrates how poverty and neglect shape daily life and confronts those benefiting from the situation, such as through illegal social benefits.
Similar hotspots exist nationwide, like Hamburg's Reeperbahn or Berlin's drug scene, but the focus is on the Ruhr area. The reports highlight the need for structural measures without assigning blame. Experts warn that without interventions, the region could slide further.
