Civil society in Eastern Europe - guarantor of democracy?
VHS@home on 15 March, 7 to 8.30 pm
On Monday, 15 March at 7 pm, the Chemnitz Adult Education Centre invites you to an online lecture on the current protests in some Central Eastern and Eastern European countries. For example, opponents of changes to abortion laws have been taking to the streets in Poland for many weeks, while protesters in Hungary opposed restrictions on media freedom at the end of last year. Anti-democratic movements are active in many countries.
Slavicist and political scientist Piotr Kocyba takes up these current events and sheds light on their background. He also asks what role they play for civil society in neighbouring Central Eastern and Eastern European countries.
Participation is free of charge. Anyone interested can register by 4 p.m. on 15 March at www.vhs-chemnitz.de or 0371 488 4343 and will receive an access link by email.
After the fall of the Iron Curtain, the dominant idea was that citizens active in civil society could not only bring down authoritarian regimes, but were also a prerequisite for a functioning democracy. Today, this picture no longer seems so clear-cut. In the former communist part of Europe, for example, protest movements are increasingly turning against democracy. In addition, illiberal regimes such as in Hungary are stabilising despite resistance on the streets.
The lecture outlines the historical background, the changes in political systems and current developments. Piotr Kocyba researches protest groups and social movements at Chemnitz University of Technology.
The event is a co-operation between the Institute for European Studies and History at Chemnitz University of Technology and the Chemnitz Adult Education Centre.
Link to the event