- Thursday, 01. February 2018 11:30 am – 1:00 pm Save in my calendar
Post-war Syria – Forward to the Past?
The Heinrich Böll Foundation European Union is embarking on a new initiative aimed at discussing challenges to liberal democracies in a series of debates on “Democracy put to test”.
For our kick-off event we are pleased to invite you to a debate on the future of Syria:
Post-war Syria – Forward to the Past?
When: 1 February 2018
Where: 11.30 at the Press Club, Rue Froissart 95, 1000 Brussels
If you are not able to attend join the event via Livestream
Most parts of Syria have been destroyed in a civil and proxy war, with multiple external actors involved. After seven years, the war in Syria seems to come to an end. Will reconstruction also bring democracy or will the Assad regime still be part of the post-war scenario? What are the options for the West and for the EU, in particular, to support a pathway to peace and democracy? Last but not least, what are the repercussions of the violent conflict in Syria for neighbouring countries, such as Lebanon?
Speakers:
- Keynote by Dr. Bente Scheller, Director of the Heinrich-Böll-Foundation Middle East Office in Beirut and author of the book “The Wisdom of Syria’s Waiting Game. Foreign Policy Under the Assads”
- Comment by Jean-François Hasperue, Political Officer - International Relations Officer MENA, European External Action Service
- Moderation by Dr. Cornelia Hoffmann, Director EU Programmes & Democracy, Heinrich Böll Foundation European Union
The rises of populism and nationalism in Europe and beyond, the increasing popularity of autocratic rulers, and the damage to the legal foundations of democratic systems are clear warnings that defending democracy is an ongoing task for all our societies. Brexit, the United States’ withdrawal from the Paris agreement and international trade negotiations, and the return to protectionist politics are clear indications to which extent the faulting of globalisation can put Western values and its democratic order at risk.
Against this background, the Brussels office of the Heinrich Böll Foundation organises a series of debates between analysts, civil society representatives, and policy-makers to reflect on current developments, the state of democracy, and the challenges ahead.
The Heinrich Böll Foundation is a member of the European Network of Political Foundations (ENoP).
- Language
- English