In recent years, overlapping crises have preoccupied Europe: the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the rise of the illiberal right, COVID 19, and the energy and cost-of-living crises are some of them. These multiple crises challenge European democracies in different ways. At the Hambach Democracy Dialogue 2023 we will discuss how Social Democracy can be defended under these circumstances. Our distinguished speakers and experts will look from different angles at how democracies should respond to these developments.
On 15 June 2023 at 16:00 CEST, we will broadcast Eva Illouz sharing her experiences from Israeli politics in her keynote "Populism as Emotional Politics: The Perspectives from Israel". Later, we will discuss whether we are witnessing a battle between autocracies and democracies with experts such as Staffan Lindberg (Director of the V-Dem Institute), Ummu Salma Bava (Professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University in India), Sven Mikser, MEP (former Minister of Defence and Foreign Affairs of Estonia) and Karolina Zbytniewska (Editor-in-Chief of EURACTIV Poland). Tune in!
Contact:
Marco Schwarz
marco.schwarz(at)fes.de
Stephanie Hepper
stephanie.hepper(at)fes.de
Filip Milacic
Filip.milacic(at)fes.de
CONFERENCE OPENING & WELCOME
Ellen Diehl, Head of FES Regional Office Rhineland-Palatinate/Saarland in Mainz
Johanna Lutz, Head of FES Democracy of the Future in Vienna
Christiane Kesper, Director of the FES EU Office in Brussels
KEYNOTE SPEECH – POPULISM AS EMOTIONAL POLITICS: THE PERSPECTIVE FROM ISRAEL
Eva Illouz, Professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
LIVE SESSION – ARE WE WITNESSING A STRUGGLE BETWEEN DEMOCRACIES AND AUTOCRACIES?
On the one hand, there are those who argue that Russian aggression against Ukraine has sharpened the divide between autocracies and democracies. Accordingly, the world has become torn between two opposing clusters along a clear ideological line: an alliance of democracies, led by the United States, is now facing an alliance of autocratic states, centered upon Russia and particularly China. Following this line of thought, autocracy vs. democracy thus forms a new global conflict line. On the other hand, many are contesting this binary view of the world. They find the warnings about the arrival of the new Cold War that pits autocracies against democracies to be a simplified explanation of much more nuanced processes. Just as we cannot talk about the global crisis of democracy as there is not one but many differently developed democracies, neither can we talk about the uniformity of interests of all global democracies that originate in ideology, or so the argument goes.
This panel will debate these two interpretations. It will also address the question of how democracy should be more effectively defended under the new circumstances marked by the change of the international context (weaker support for democracy in the global arena and a rising assertiveness of autocracies). A special emphasis will be put on new ideas to empower local political and civil society actors to fight for opening democratic spaces.
Staffan Lindberg, Director of the V-Dem Institute;
Sven Mikser, MEP and former Defence and Foreign Affairs Minister of Estonia;
Karolina Zbytniewska, Chief Editor of EURACTIV Poland,
Ummu Salma Bava, Professor at the Jawaharlal Nehru University in India
moderated by Ivana Dragičević, Europe’s Futures Fellow at IWM, Vienna
END OF LIVESTREAM
What can Europe's Left do against its own impending irrelevance? François Hollande in conversation with the Falter. (Paywall and in German)
How autocrats convince voters to sacrifice abstract interests like democracy explains our colleague Filip Milačić at the ips-journal.
The West is reducing the debate on Russia's war in Ukraine to the defence of democracy. Instead, it should be about the defence and inviolability of inter-state borders, says Ummu Salma Bava in der Standard.
It will be much easier for us to persuade the citizens of other countries to stand up to autocrats, if democratic nations manage to reverse the trend of declining trust in their own countries, writes Sven Mikser in EurActiv Poland.
Europe faces numerous crises that test its identity and cohesion. Europe must overcome authoritarian excesses - and can do so, writes François Hollande in an Op-ed in the SZ (in German).
The ongoing rule of law backsliding in Poland and Hungary is threatening the unity and integrity of the European Union. Dr Maria Skóra explains what needs to be done to save the EU from disintegration.
Borghetto, Enrico
Download publication (230 KB, PDF-File)
Walker-Dawson, Carly
Download publication (260 KB, PDF-File)
Gorski, Philip S.
Download publication (300 KB, PDF-File)
Workshop for young people: Shaping Europe, Fostering Democracy
Young Europeans (age group 18-35) will discuss in this workshop how to organize and further develop democracy in the digital age: As "Citizens' Think Tank" the participants will develop their views on the topic and formulate concrete ideas for political decision-making. The workshop will give an opportunity to form new networks and to present the ideas during the conference in the panel "European digital democracy and data sovereignty".
Interactive Networking Option
via Zoom Breakout Rooms (5 minutes, 5 participants)
Opening
Martin Schulz, President of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung
Kurt Beck, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Hambacher Schloss Stiftung
Moderated by Jacki Davis
Panel I: More power for citizens? The Conference on the Future of Europe
The goal of deliberative and participatory democracy is to strengthen the involvement of citizens in the political decision-making process, thereby enhancing their political participation and self-determination. What role can new formats of citizen participation play? Will these compete against or complement the work of parliaments? How could deliberation be embedded in the overall system of democracy? Is a permanent Citizens’ Council at EU level possible? What role can the Conference on the Future of Europe play in fostering deliberation at European and transnational levels on a lasting basis?
Panel discussion with
Coffee Break
Panel II: European digital democracy and data sovereignty
The internet offers new opportunities for political participation and co-determination. Regardless of their location, citizens can go online to network and ex-change information, join forces and pursue political concerns together. The virtual public arena can help promote innovative forms of social cooperation and overcome national and linguistic borders. The EU already offers citizens a variety of digital ways to have a say in European policy making. Are the existing online instruments enough or do we need new mechanisms for digital codetermination? What are the opportunities and risks of e-voting? Does the EU need more digital sovereignty and how can it better protect our online data?
Panel discussion with
Interactive Networking Option
via SpatialChat
Interactive Networking Option
via Zoom Breakout Rooms (5 minutes, 5 participants)
Welcome address
Jens Geier MEP, Chair of the SPD group in the European Parliament
Panel III: How can the EU better protect Europe’s fundamental values?
Europe’s fundamental values, such as democracy and the rule of law, are coming under pressure from a number of increasingly authoritarian member states. The EU has been trying to tackle this for years, and has created new instruments and mechanisms to enhance protection of its fundamental values. As a result, it is now possible to link EU funding to compliance with rule of law principles. How good are the EU’s new instruments? Can they stop the erosion of the rule of law? What do the people in the concerned countries think about these developments? What can the EU do to foster the democratic culture in member states?
Panel discussion with
Coffee Break
Panel IV: Europe fight for freedom of expression and against disinformation on the net
The European Democracy Action Plan sets out to improve measures to counter disinformation, strengthen media freedom and journalists’ safety and prevent election manipulation. What about freedom of expression and freedom of information on the net? How can the power of dominant online platforms be limited? What concrete steps can the EU take against disinformation and attempts at manipulation on the net? To what extent are elections in Europe threatened by disinformation and propaganda on the net?
Panel discussion with
Closing Remarks
Interactive Networking Option
via SpatialChat
The Hambach Festival of 1832 was an important milestone in the German and European democracy movement. It has also shaped the development of Social Democracy. Hambach Castle today is a symbol not only of the history of German democracy, but also of European integration as well as Europe’s ideals and history.
The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung is inviting politicians, experts in democracy and representatives of European civil society, as well as young people and young professionals from all over Europe to reflect on democracy in this historical location. The Hambach Democracy Dialogue (HDD) is a platform for exchanging progressive ideas and proposals for further developing European democracies.
In the run-up to the HDD, a workshop for about 25 young Europeans will take place. They will also attend the HDD and take part in the conference discussions.