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Democracy Forum 2024
On 11 October 2024, the Körber Foundation’s Democracy Forum took place for the first time at the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities.
The conference focussed on the particular challenges facing mayors and discussed the consequences of the state elections in Brandenburg, Thuringia and Saxony for cities and municipalities. In addition, the findings from the report ‘Wehrhafte Kommunen?’ were discussed and the resilience of municipal constitutions to anti-democratic forces was examined in more detail. Both on the podium and together with the audience, the importance of citizen participation and direct democracy was discussed and a concerned look was taken at the US presidential elections and their implications for the entire democratic world.
Missed the Democracy Forum? Click here for the live recordings:
- Eröffnung
- Panel: Bürgermeisterinnen und Bürgermeister im rauen Diskurs
- Panel: Wehrhafte Kommunen – Resilienz im populistischen Zeitalter
- Impulsrede: Demokratie stärken – Zusammenleben schützen
- Panel: Im Wahljahr 2024 – was hält unsere Demokratie noch zusammen?
- Interview: Parteienverbote und Kandidierendenausschlüsse
- Panel: Ist mehr Partizipation die Lösung? Brauchen wir eine radikale Erneuerung der Demokratie?
- Panel: Still the shining city on the hill? What future awaits American democracy?
- On the podium
- Conference programme
- Our publications on the topic
Eröffnung
Lothar Dittmer (Chairman of the Executive Board, Körber Foundation) addresses the growing challenges to democracy, such as populism, declining trust in institutions and disinformation, in his introductory address.
Panel: Bürgermeisterinnen und Bürgermeister im rauen Diskurs
Constance Arndt (Mayor of Zwickau), Martin Heilig (2nd Mayor of Würzburg), Silvio Witt (Mayor of Neubrandenburg) and Sina Fröhndrich (Deutschlandfunk) talk about the importance of cities for democracy and the challenges for local politicians, who are increasingly the focus of hostility.
Panel: Wehrhafte Kommunen – Resilienz im populistischen Zeitalter
Klaas Müller (Verfassungsblog), Klaus Ritgen (Deutscher Landkreistag) and René Wilke (Lord Mayor of Frankfurt/Oder) discuss with Felix Huesmann (Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland) the resilience of municipal constitutions and possible steps to strengthen democratic structures against the influence of populist forces that are already disrupting the regulated processes of municipal politics and administration.
Impulsrede: Demokratie stärken – Zusammenleben schützen
Keynote speech by Rita Schwarzelühr-Sutter (Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister of the Interior and for Home Affairs) on the tension between strengthening democracy and protecting coexistence in freedom and security, the importance of municipalities for social cohesion and the commitment of municipal officials and elected representatives.
Panel: Im Wahljahr 2024 – was hält unsere Demokratie noch zusammen?
Rita Schwarzelühr-Sutter (Parliamentary State Secretary BMI), Tina Hildebrandt (Die Zeit), Jan-Werner Müller (Princeton University) and Sven Tetzlaff will discuss the question of how democracy can be strengthened under pressure in an increasingly polarised society.
Interview: Parteienverbote und Kandidierendenausschlüsse
Felix Huesmann and Alexander Thiele (BSP Business & Law School Berlin) talk about party bans and the exclusion of anti-constitutional candidates as a means of defending democracy. Can they strengthen democracy or do they promote social division?
Panel: Ist mehr Partizipation die Lösung? Brauchen wir eine radikale Erneuerung der Demokratie?
Barbara Bosch (State Councillor for Citizen Participation Baden-Württemberg), Paulina Fröhlich (Progressive Centre), Thomas Heilmann (Member of the Bundestag) and Katharina Liesenberg (Es geht los) spoke with moderator Jörg Sommer about ways and means of revitalising democracy in Germany.
Panel: Still the shining city on the hill? What future awaits American democracy?
Stephan Bierling (University of Regensburg), Katja Gloger (journalist and publicist), Clayton Weimers (Reporters Without Borders USA) and Anna Sauerbrey discuss the consequences of the upcoming elections for democracy in America and the extent to which populism undermines the reputation of democracy as a form of government.
On the podium
Conference programme
10:00 Opening
Lothar Dittmer (Chairman of the Executive Board, Körber Foundation)
10:15 Panel: Mayors in a rough discourse
We spoke with Constance Arndt (Lord Mayor of Zwickau), Martin Heilig (2nd Mayor of Würzburg), Silvio Witt (Lord Mayor of Neubrandenburg); Moderation: Sina Fröhndrich
Local politicians are increasingly the focus of hostility, both online and offline. This places a heavy burden on political engagement at local level. We spoke to mayors about the importance of cities for democracy in Germany and the particular challenges facing local politicians.
11:15 Panel: Resilient municipalities – resilience in the age of populism
We spoke with Klaas Müller (Verfassungsblog), Klaus Ritgen (Deutscher Landkreistag), René Wilke (Lord Mayor of Frankfurt/Oder); Moderation: Felix Huesmann
Populist forces are increasingly gaining influence in local authorities. This is already being used to disrupt the regulated processes of local politics and administration. In the panel, we discussed the resilience of municipal constitutions and possible steps to strengthen democratic structures.
12:15 Strengthening democracy – protecting coexistence in freedom and security
Keynote speech by Rita Schwarzelühr-Sutter (Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister of the Interior, Nancy Faeser)
12:30 Panel: In the election year 2024 – what still holds our democracy together?
We spoke with Tina Hildebrandt (Die Zeit), Jan-Werner Müller (Princeton University), Rita Schwarzelühr-Sutter (Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser); Moderation: Sven Tetzlaff.
What is the state of democracy in Germany in the face of the threats posed by populism and extremism? What lessons can be learnt from the European, state and local elections? Which instruments of a defence-oriented democracy are suitable for protecting freedom and security? The discussion on democracy under pressure focused on the question of how it can be strengthened in an increasingly polarised society.
13:15 Lunch
14:15 Interview: Party bans and candidate exclusions
The guest was Alexander Thiele (BSP Business & Law School Berlin); moderator: Felix Huesmann
We talked about party bans and the exclusion of anti-constitutional candidates as a means of defending democracy and shed light on the legal basis and practical effects of such measures. Can they strengthen democracy or do they promote social division?
15:00 Panel: Is more participation the solution? Do we need a radical renewal of democracy?
We spoke with Barbara Bosch (State Councillor for Citizen Participation Baden-Württemberg), Paulina Fröhlich (Progressive Centre), Thomas Heilmann (Member of the Bundestag), Katharina Liesenberg (Es geht los); moderator: Jörg Sommer
Voter turnout is falling, fewer and fewer people are members of a political party, trust in political actors and institutions is declining: Is it time for new participatory approaches and structures? Together with our guests, we discussed ways and means of revitalising democracy in Germany.
16:00 Coffee break
16:30 Panel: Still the shining city on the hill? What future awaits American democracy?
We spoke with Stephan Bierling (University of Regensburg), Katja Gloger (journalist and publicist), Clayton Weimers (Reporters Without Borders USA); Moderator: Anna Sauerbrey
Is the USA facing a further polarisation of society, an erosion of democratic institutions and an increase in political instability? Together with our guests, we discussed the possible consequences of the upcoming presidential elections for democracy in America and the extent to which increasing populism is undermining the global reputation of democracy as a form of government.
17:30 Conclusion
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