Doing Democracy: Civil society and academia connect across borders at Viadrina
As part of the European Reform University Alliance (ERUA), the European University Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder) and the social science institute at SWPS University Warsaw are inviting participants to the German-Polish networking event “Doing Democracy: Connecting Academia and Civil Society Across Borders” in Frankfurt (Oder) and Słubice on Thursday and Friday, 23 and 24 April 2026. Over the course of two days, the event will focus on ideas, dialogue and exchange across the German-Polish border in relating work to democracy. Members of the public are invited to attend several discussion formats. The event marks the 35th anniversary of the signing of the German-Polish Treaty on Good Neighbourliness.
Up-to-date information about the event is available on the website:
https://ecos.erua-eui.eu/info/doing-democracy/
“The German-Polish Treaty on Good Neighbourliness of 1991 and the re-establishment of the European University Viadrina just a few weeks later stand for a shared vision: to strengthen German-Polish dialogue on a lasting basis within a united Europe and to work together across borders,” says Professor Eduard Mühle, President of the European University Viadrina. For Viadrina, the treaty is not only a historical point of reference, but also a mandate to address the key issues of the present and future through German-Polish dialogue – in research, teaching and cross-border societal exchange.
The networking event aims to bring academia and practice into dialogue with a view to strengthening democracy. Civil society organisations from Germany and Poland working in the fields of civic education, community building, democratic participation, human rights protection, prevention of extremism and social cohesion are invited, as are researchers and students from both countries who engage academically with these issues. The event offers an opportunity to contribute experiences and concerns, generate new ideas and find cooperation partners pursuing similar goals – across both professional and national boundaries.
Associations, alliances, initiatives, researchers and students will submit posters in advance presenting their work and concerns. These will form the basis for the topics of the working groups, such as “Challenges in Strengthening Dialogue and Local Participation”, “Civic Education and Young People in Times of Social Media (Dis)information” and “Strategies for Combating Hate Speech and Right-Wing Extremism”.
Public events as part of Doing Democracy
All public events will be interpreted into German and Polish, with simultaneous English interpretation available via livestream.
Doing Democracy: Why connect academia and civil society in the field of democracy?
Thursday, 23 April 2026, 1.00–2.30 pm
Venue: Logensaal, European University Viadrina
Welcome: Professor Eduard Mühle, President of the European University Viadrina
The event will begin with a panel discussion on why closer cooperation between academia and civil society is necessary in the field of democracy.
Panel:
Professor Mikołaj Cześnik (SWPS University Warsaw)
Artur Koldomasov (SWPS University Warsaw, invited)
Dr Anja Hennig (European University Viadrina)
Moderator: Irene Hahn-Fuhr (Centre for Liberal Modernity / Foundation for German-Polish Cooperation)
Opportunities for Democratic Participation in Times of Disinformation
Thursday, 23 April 2026, 6.30–8.00 pm
Venue: Council Chamber, Frankfurt (Oder) Town Hall
Panel discussion on the challenges and opportunities of democratic participation in times of disinformation, followed by a reception.
A welcome address has been requested from Claus Junghanns, Mayor of Frankfurt (Oder).
Panel:
Professor Radosław Markowski (SWPS University Warsaw)
Krzysztof Izdebski (Stefan Batory Foundation, Warsaw)
Professor Gesine Schwan (Berlin Governance Platform)
Dr Anne Holper (Viadrina Institute for Conflict Management)
The discussion will also include perspectives from various areas of civil society.
Moderator: Dr Anja Hennig (European University Viadrina)
Advance registration is required for this event at: https://forms.europa-uni.de/form/provide/2402/
Future Lab: topics, formats and conditions for cooperation between academia and practice
Friday, 24 April 2026, 1.30–3.30 pm
Venue: Conference Hall, Collegium Polonicum, Słubice
The final session of Doing Democracy will provide an opportunity to share key findings and experiences and to develop ideas for potential projects. The focus will be on the formats that might be suitable for future cooperation and what conditions are needed to make such cooperation possible.
Contributions on funding opportunities and strategic development will be provided by Alfred Roos of Tolerant Brandenburg, the German-Polish Science Foundation, Krzysztof Izdebski of the Stefan Batory Foundation in Warsaw, and a representative of the Brandenburg Ministry for Economic Affairs, Energy, Climate Action and Europe.
Livestream Englisch
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