Why this Event?
Through DOING DEMOCRACY, the European University Viadrina (Frankfurt (Oder)) and SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities in Warsaw created, as part of the European Reform University Alliance (ERUA), a shared space in which academia and civil society can work together on key 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 was also intended as a contribution to the 35th anniversary of the German-Polish Neighbourhood Treaty.
Read moreWho attended?
- Over 40 participants from German and Polish NGOs and initiatives working in the fields of political education, community building, participation, human rights/minority protection, the prevention of extremism, or social cohesion
- Over 40 researchers and students from Germany and Poland interested in democracy, resilience, disinformation, participation or civil society practice, who were seeking practice partners, developing project ideas or looking to integrate practical perspectives into their studies and research.
- 25 regional stakeholders from politics and urban society
Three Pillars of the Event
Exchange
Short profiles and posters provided an overview of participants, their work and the key issues they were addressing. This was not only the basis for a poster gallery but, above all, for the thematic working groups for the event.
Initiate Collaboration
From initial ideas to concrete formats: low-threshold opportunities to explore collaborations between practice and academia were identified (e.g., project partnerships, practice-oriented research, teaching/student formats).
Formulate Requests for Decision-Makers
Insights from the working groups (PDF working groups) were presented at the Future Lab on 24 April, 2–4 pm and through contributions to the Entanglements blog and other formats.
Videos of the public highlights
Opening panel discussion: "Doing Democracy: Why Should Academia and Civil Society Collaborate on 'Democracy' (German-Polish)?"
Logensaal, European University ViadrinaWith Prof. Radek Markowski, Dr Anja Hennig and Irene Hahn-Fuhr (moderator)
Watch recordingGerman-Polish panel discussion at Frankfurt (Oder) Town Hall on the opportunities for democracy through participation in the age of disinformation.
City Council Chamber, Frankfurt (Oder) Town HallWith Prof. Gesine Schwan, Krzysztof Izdebski, Dr Anne Holper, Prof. Radek Markowski and Dr Anja Hennig (moderator)
Watch recordingThe Future Lab, where the working groups presented their key findings to invited experts from the fields of project funding and politics, and funding options were discussed.
Conference Hall, Collegium Polonicum, SłubiceWith Dr Carola Lau, Krzysztof Izdebski, Daria Mudzio-Wieloch, Artur Koldomasov, Laura Bannan-Fischer and student moderators.
Watch recordingOrganisers
DOING DEMOCRACY is organised by the European University Viadrina (Frankfurt (Oder)) and SWPS University.
The initiative is part of ERUA Work Package 5: "Achieving Social Change in ERUA's Local Communities and Regions" and the ERUA Collaborative Open Space (ECOS) platform, developed and supported by the University of the Aegean.
ERUA brings together several European universities with the aim of contributing to a free, fairer and more democratic Europe through teaching, research and social engagement.
Partners
