Why this Event?

With DOING DEMOCRACY, Europa-Universität Viadrina (Frankfurt (Oder)) and SWPS University Warsaw create—within the framework of the European Reform University Alliance (ERUA)—a shared space in which academia and civil society work on central questions of democracy: What strengthens democratic resilience and what threatens it?

Precisely because promoting and analysing democracy has become more urgent and at the same time more complex, we need places where practical knowledge and research perspectives come together, needs become visible and new cooperations can emerge.

35 Years of the German-Polish Neighbourhood Treaty

DOING DEMOCRACY is conceived as a contribution to the anniversary year of 35 years of the German-Polish Neighbourhood Treaty.

Who is invited?

DOING DEMOCRACY addresses everyone who practically strengthens democracy in everyday life or researches it academically – particularly in the German-Polish context. Invited are:

NGOs & initiatives working on civic education, community building, participation, human rights/minority protection, extremism prevention or social cohesion
Researchers & educators who research or teach on democracy, resilience, disinformation, participation or civil society practice
Students who are looking for practice partners, developing a topic or wishing to integrate practical perspectives into their studies and research

Three Pillars of the Event

1

Exchange

Short profiles/posters make visible who is present, what is being worked on and what questions are in the room. From this we develop not only a poster gallery but above all the thematic working groups for the event.

2

Initiate Cooperation

From first ideas to concrete formats: practice-research cooperations can be explored here with low thresholds (e.g. project partnerships, practice-oriented research, teaching/student formats).

3

Formulating concerns to decision-makers

Insights from exchange and working groups are bundled and made visible in the Future Lab on 24 April, 14–16h, as well as through blog posts and other formats.

Quick Overview

What?

Networking event for civil society, academia and (invited) guests from project funding in the German-Polish border region

When?

23–24 April 2026

Where?

23 April: Logensaal and Co-Working Space, Europa-Universität Viadrina, Frankfurt (Oder) & 24 April: Collegium Polonicum, Słubice

Who?

NGOs, researchers, students, initiatives, engaged citizens from Poland and Germany

Register

Register for the event — select your category:

Polski NGO Polska Academia German NGO German Academia

Submit your poster: doingdemocracy@europa-uni.de

Deadline: 7. April / 7 April 2026

Working language is English, supported by German-Polish interpreters; public events are interpreted in German and Polish.

Participation does not entail a specific funding commitment; regional funding agencies are invited.

Public Highlights

23 April, 13:00–14:30 h
Opening panel: "Doing Democracy: Why network academia and civil society around 'Democracy' (German-Polish)?"
Logensaal, European University Viadrina
23 April, 18:30–20:00 h
A public German-Polish panel discussion at Rathaus Frankfurt (Oder) on the opportunities for participation for democracy in the age of disinformation – with simultaneous interpretation (DE/PL).
City Council Chamber, Frankfurt (Oder) Town Hall
24 April, 13:30–15:30 h
The Future Lab, where the most important results of the working groups are presented to invited experts from project funding and politics, and funding options are discussed.
Small Hall of the Collegium Polonicum, Słubice

Organizers

DOING DEMOCRACY is organized by Europa-Universität Viadrina (Frankfurt (Oder)) and SWPS University (Warsaw) within the European Reform University Alliance (ERUA).

DOING DEMOCRACY is part of the ERUA Collaborative Open Space and is made visible through the ECOS (ERUA Collaborative Open Space) platform.

ERUA connects several European universities with the aspiration to contribute to a free, more just and democratic Europe through teaching, research and civic engagement.