idw – Informationsdienst Wissenschaft
Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
Among the striking new developments of our times is the reappearance of an old problem with old roots: a creeping disillusionment with democracy itself. The new coolness towards democracy is surfacing within a global context of rising militarism, mounting ecological problems, religious tensions and public disappointment with the institutions of parliamentary democracy. And especially since 2001, disaffection with democracy has been reinforced by the failure to promote democracy by means of war, and by the reassertion of state authority against ,terrorism', often using questionable legal and police methods.
These disparate trends serve as the backdrop of this lecture on the new opponents of democracy. It pushes beyond discredited ,end of history' perspectives to ask some pertinent questions: who are the new opponents of democracy? Why have they drawn a line against the principles and practice of democracy? How potentially effective is their hostility and - a troubling paradox - could it be that the principal threats to the vision of a flourishing de-mocracy are power brokers masquerading as democrats?
John Keane is Professor of Politics at the University of Westminster, London, and Research Professor at the Social Science Research Center Berlin (WZB). His most recent books are: "Civil Society: Berlin Perspectives" (2006); "Violence and Democracy" (2004); "Global Civil Society?" (2003); "Whatever Happened to Democracy?" (2002); "Vaclav Havel: A Political Tragedy in Six Acts" (2000).
WZB "Lectures on Democracy" are organized by John Keane and Wolfgang Merkel
Information on participating / attending:
Please reply by February 22, 2008 to Carolin Wolf: events@wzb.eu
Date:
02/26/2008 18:00 - 02/26/2008 21:00
Event venue:
Reichpietschufer 50, Raum A 300
10785 Berlin
Berlin
Germany
Target group:
Journalists, Scientists and scholars
Email address:
Relevance:
transregional, national
Subject areas:
History / archaeology, Law, Politics, Social studies
Types of events:
Entry:
02/11/2008
Sender/author:
Dr. Paul Stoop
Department:
Informations- und Kommunikationsreferat
Event is free:
yes
Language of the text:
English
URL of this event: http://idw-online.de/en/event22604
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