The role of illiberalism in shaping European debates

Date: June 16, 2023, 18:00-19:30
Location: Spółdzielnia Ogniwo, Smolki 11a, 30-513 Kraków / Online Transmission

The public sphere in Europe serves as a platform that supports democratic participation and enhances the quality of debates in the region. In the face of numerous crises confronting European societies, there is an increased need for collaboration to understand and address these challenges. Particularly, the ongoing Russian invasion of sovereign Ukraine, which has lasted for over a year, has unequivocally demonstrated the necessity of European solidarity and defense of democratic values. However, Europe must find a collective response to threats arising from the climate crisis, economic crisis, political polarization, as well as new challenges such as technological ones related to disinformation and artificial intelligence.

We invite you to partake in our panel discussion: "The role of illiberalism in shaping European debates." The event constitutes the culmination of the project "Values in the European public sphere - Eurozine workshop of editors," carried out in cooperation with the Jan Nowak-Jeziorański College of Eastern Europe and the college's bimonthly magazine, New Eastern Europe.

The panel will delve into the impact of illiberalism on the shape of contemporary European debate. This tendency, which undermines democratic principles and institutions, has been gaining strength in recent years. Both political decision-makers and representatives of civil society must navigate complex issues today, such as immigration, multiculturalism, and human rights. Meanwhile, external actors may seek to deepen the existing trend and manipulate societies towards anti-democratic sentiments. As editors, journalists, and cultural activists, our speakers will discuss how illiberal and populist discourse influences European debates and politics, and what this means for the future of democracy.

The debate will be conducted in English.

Welcoming remarks: Adam Reichardt (New Eastern Europe)/ Agata Gontarczyk (Representation of the Heinrich Böll Foundation in Warsaw)

Panelists:

Reka Papp (Hungary) - Hungarian journalist, author, and presenter specializing in environmental, social, and human rights issues; Editor-in-Chief of Eurozine since November 2018.

Luka Gabrijelčič (Slovenia) - Slovenian historian, political scientist, and translator; Editor at Razpotja and Eurozine. Columnist for the Slovenian newspaper Delo.

Bartek Panek (Poland) - Radio journalist, reporter, and political scientist by education. Co-creator of "Raport o Stanie Świata” [The State of the World Report] by Dariusz Rosiak.

Eugen Stancu (Romania) - Editor and columnist at LaPunkt.ro

Moderation: Elodie Thevenin - Institute of European Studies, Jagiellonian University.