Lecture series in summer semester '26: Under Pressure. On democracy, trust and the public sphere.
About the lecture series
Democratic societies are currently under a variety of pressures: political polarisation, global shifts in power and digital public spheres are changing the conditions under which democratic processes function. At the same time, trust in institutions, media and political actors is increasingly faltering.
The lecture series looks at these developments and questions the stability and sustainability of democratic systems. In four lectures, renowned experts will shed light on different perspectives - from fundamental questions of political practice to international developments and the dynamics of digital radicalisation.
That's what it's all about
The lecture deals with online radicalisation, disinformation and digital violence as central challenges for democratic societies. Using the example of the mannosphere, it will show how radical and misogynistic ideologies spread in digital networks, what role platforms and platform structures play in this and how these dynamics influence everyday democratic life - from public debates and political participation to the safety of those affected by digital violence. Finally, key questions on prevention, regulation and civil society counter-strategies will be discussed.
Sina Laubenstein is Programme Director of the Institute for Strategic Dialogue Germany (ISD). She leads various projects on digital violence and hate speech online and is a recognised expert in this field. She was involved in the curriculum development of the Business Council for Democracy (BC4D). Laubenstein studied Political Science at the University of Mannheim (B.A.) and Global Studies and Societal Change at Malmö University (M.A.). As a freelance lecturer, speaker and author, she specialises in the topics of digital civil courage, hate and extremism online and digital violence. She is in close dialogue with actors from politics, civil society and academia and advises them nationally and internationally on their strategies for dealing with hate online.
That's what it's all about
The state of American democracy is cause for concern. The Project 2025 announced a plan for the systematic transformation toward a strong, right-wing executive branch even before Donald Trump’s second inauguration. Much of this has since been implemented. Annika Brockschmidt demonstrates how American democracy is being shaped by the dynamics between Christian nationalism and right-wing fundamentalism, as well as by the interests of a few influential figures.The lecture ultimately raises the question of how vulnerable German democracy is to such narratives and ideologies, and what forms of democratic resilience appear necessary.
Annika Brockschmidt studied History, German Studies and War and Conflict Studies in Heidelberg, Durham and Potsdam. She is a freelance journalist and author, has worked for the ZDF Hauptstadtstudio in the past, produced the "HistoPod" for the Federal Agency for Civic Education and is currently co-host of the podcasts "Feminist Shelf Control" and "Kreuz und Flagge". In 2022, she received a "Transatlantic Media Fellowship" from the Heinrich Böll Foundation. Her articles are Zeit Online, the Frankfurter Rundschau and the Tagesspiegel have appeared. Brockschmidt also writes as a senior correspondent for the US magazineReligion Dispatches, which is part of the renowned think tank Political Research Associates, which has been dedicated to researching right-wing extremism for over thirty years. Her most recent publication was "The Arsonists. How extremists took over the Republican Party" (Rowohlt 2024).
