Inaugural conference: The challenges of European democracy

Democracy, that broad and abstract concept, is once again on everyone’s lips. In an etymological sense, it is based on a simple and concrete idea, the government of the people, but these concepts have been built up as it has been deployed in different forms of political organisation of society through representative, deliberative, direct or participatory democracy. Different declinations with very different conceptions of this radical and concrete idea of democracy.

In this conference we want to bring the debate on what democracy means in Europe today, what its limits are in the context of the current multiple crises and what challenges open up in the face of such a complex scenario in terms of political governance at multiple scales. We also want to bring into dialogue a critical and reflective look at the crisis of democracy with the defence of fundamental rights and the fight against inequalities. At the same time, we want to explore Europe’s role on the global stage and what its role should be in a horizon of defence and progress towards a global democracy or a democracy of democracies.

Speakers:

• Daniel Innerarity, National Humanities Research Award for his significant role in adapting the normative principles of democracy to current social dynamics. He is also professor of political and social philosophy, Ikerbasque researcher at the University of the Basque Country and director of the Institute of Democratic Governance.

Moderator:

• Karlos Castilla, lawyer from the National Autonomous University of Mexico. Doctor in Law from the Pompeu Fabra University. He is currently responsible for research and international advocacy at the Institut de Drets Humans de Catalunya and associate professor of International Law at the Pompeu Fabra University

Programme:

• 5:30 p.m. – Opening doors
• 5:45 p.m. – Presentation of the event
• 6:00 p.m. – Conference by Daniel Innerarity and Q & A