Democracy: Dead or Alive?

Just after the US midterms, Arminius will be the stage for the festival Democracy: Dead or Alive?  with a broad and diverse programme across multiple rooms. From lectures and debates on the current state of the democratic world to more hands-on sessions about actively participating in and bolstering democracy. At the end of the night we will dance to either celebrate or cry over our democracies.

Free for EUR-students with code: EUR

With:

Alanna O’Malley is professor and Chair of Global Governance and Wealth at Erasmus University, specializing in international relations, the United Nations, decolonization, and the Global South. What does the undermining of international institutions mean for the democratic world order?

Carolien van Ham is Professor of Empirical Political Science at Radboud University Nijmegen. Her research focuses on democratic erosion, political representation and the integrity of elections. How do democracies falter? And what can we do to ‘save’ our democracies?

Marieke de Hoon is Professor of International Criminal Justice at the University of Amsterdam (UvA). In her research and teaching she focuses on international law, international criminal law, national prosecution of international crimes and human rights. What does democratic backsliding mean for international law?

Vincent Blok is professor at the Erasmus School of Philosophy, specializing in disruptive technologies and the human condition. He will discuss the appeal of Ernst Jünger’s work for younger generations, searching for strong, often autocratic leaders, and what this reveals about contemporary politics.

Milan Stürmer is postdoctoral researcher at Erasmus School of Philosophy and coordinator at the Erasmus Institute for Philosophy and Technology. His research explores technofascism, the political epistemology and economy of artificial intelligence, and the development of a contemporary philosophy of technology.

Mark van Vugt is professor of Evolutionary Psychology at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and Research Associate in Politics and International Relations at the University of Oxford. He currently focuses on leadership, examining why some individuals are attracted to strong, autocratic leaders and how this shapes their subsequent attitudes and behavior.

Sarah de Lange is professor of Dutch Politics at Leiden University, where she coordinates the Comparative and Dutch Politics cluster and the Centrum voor Nederlandse Politiek en Bestuur. She is an expert on new social and political divides, and the rise and impact of far-right parties on party systems and democracy.

Lobby Lokaal: Pick Up the Mic! (Workshop in Dutch) 
Everyone complains about their city from time to time. But how do you turn frustration into real change? In this interactive crash course by Lobby Lokaal – a platform that helps residents influence local politics – you'll learn how to tell a compelling story, make your voice heard, and create impact. Stop complaining, pick up the mic, and speak up for your city!

Voor Ons Nederland: The Intervention, the Audio Play (Workshop in Dutch)
The audio play is an accessible intervention in which, using a silent-disco headset, you listen to a personal story and are introduced to democratic values in comparison with an authoritarian regime. Afterwards, under the guidance of a moderator, you will engage in a group discussion about democracy and its meaning.

Lokaal: Workshop on Local Politics. (In Dutch)
Would you like to learn more about our local government? Then take this short course on local politics. How exactly does the municipality work? And what can you do to bring issues to the forefront? 

More names to be announced.