On Democracy and Widerständigkeit

Democracy is under attack. Driven by a longing for authoritarian order and the irrational belief in their supposed supremacy, far-right forces intent to replace democracy with ‘illiberal’ regimes.

Corporate interests have consistently supported such perversions of rights and freedoms, often in the name of free markets. But the recent alliance between the far-right and technocapitalists marks a new frontier of capitalist extraction: with black box AI in the hands of power-mad manipulators, we witness a shift from AI gamification to AI weaponisation: instead of empowering and emancipating individuals and populations, their goal is to control, constrain and exploit us.

The fate of the city is closely linked with democracy. Not only because the latter is borne from the former but also because both are based on multiplicity, inclusion, and diversity – ideas the reactionary right abhors and is openly hostile to. Democracy and Widerständigkeit therefore explores what it needs to strengthen democracy and the city.

Speakers: 

• John Palmesino, Territorial Agency
• Anne McClintock, creative writer and photographer
• Simon Ilse, Human Security Unit - Heinrich Böll Foundation
• Moderator: Emma Dowling, University of Vienna

Atelier Augarten
Scherzergasse 1a, 1020 Vienna