The new desire for destruction. Or how democracy keeps its composure
The public climate is currently becoming harsher. A new desire for destruction is spreading in society and politics. International and national, digital and analog, right and left: it is better to stand in front of a pile of broken glass than to be forced into the corset of the established order.
The disenchantment with politics seems to have developed into a weariness with democratic and civil manners. The destructive character of Donald Trump suddenly appears as a standard-setting role model that is being imitated in
Germany and abroad.
What is behind the desire to set society on fire and deliberately break taboos? How should society and politics deal with this radicalization and emotionalization of the public beyond the widespread bewilderment? Can anger, indignation, destructiveness and hatred be transformed into a willingness to engage in dialog? How can we reconcile the courage to contradict with the patience to listen?
10:00 – Opening
10:15 – Nicole Deitelhoff
Democracy needs conflict! On the integrative power of social conflicts
11:15 – Thorsten Thiel
Trouble spot digital public sphere
12:15 – Ute Frevert
The new desire for feelings
13:15 – Lunch break
14:15 – Christoph Möllers
Strategic or principle-driven communication: the basic law and the limits of negotiability
15:15 – A question of form. On the art of democratic conviviality
A conversation with Robert Habeck, Till van Rahden and Anatol Stefanowitsch
16:30 – Rainer Forst
Two bad halves don’t make a whole. On the crisis of democracy
17:30 – End
