How do we view worldwide revolts – from Occupy to Maidan – and the accompanying call for democracy, in relation to the French Revolution? And how do we relate ourselves to the hard-fought democratic principles from 1789? Democracy, representation, revolution, the role of the state. In recent years these terms have been at the centre of a European debate. Is a democratic turn – as seen in the times of the French Revolution – imaginable in contemporary Europe, considering the rise of nationalism and liberalism? In 1789, the French people abolished the monarchy and took power into own hands. This historical moment became the launch pad of our modern democracy. What were the circumstances in 1789 that pushed individuals to join arms and charge en masse? What democratic values were being fought for? And how do we relate ourselves to the hard-fought democratic principles from 1789? During Re:Creating Europe, we will investigate the legacy of the French Revolution and its relevance for today’s Europe. A conversation on the state of democracy in Europe and the lessons learned from the French Revolution. With: Frank Furedi (sociologist and public intellectual, United Kingdom) Tomas Vanheste (philosopher, historian and writer for De Correspondent, Belgium) Tinneke Beeckman (philosopher, columnist, Belgium) Ulrike Guérot (Founder and Director of the European Democracy Lab at the European School of Governance in Berlin, Germany)
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English
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24 hours
