From the 29th November to the 2nd December 2016, a series of discussions, debates and workshops around the theme of democracy and migration took place in Vienna.
About the Aktionstage:
While Europe’s states have been unable to create humane conditions for those who have fled war zones in the Near East in recent years, the dedication of Europe’s civil society has proven that solidarity is alive and well and that the vision of a democratic Europe is not going to be abandoned any time soon. Community action – whether in smaller communities or in larger cities – is becoming a guiding principle for many. As a result, civil society actions and organizations have been able to strongly influence European democracies, changing and reshaping them.
What kind of potential do these civil society actions hold for the advancement of European democracies in connection with the most recent influx of refugees? What can be learned from historical experience of conflict in Yugoslavia and practices in contemporary Sweden? How is the refugee movement changing European democracies and what can be learned from the civil society activities which have been emerging throughout the last year?
The Aktionstage were dedicated to exploring these questions from a theoretical and practical perspective and sought to understand the current situation through historical and geographical comparisons.
Full-length recordings of selected discussions:
Recordings of the public debates on the 29/11 and the 1/12 and all of the panel discussions on the 30/11 can be heard here.
The first part of a discussion on the role which fear is playing in redeveloping European societies.
Opening speeches by:
Eva Blimlinger (Akademie der bildenden Künste) and Boris Marte (ERSTE Stiftung)
Discussion with:
Ivan Krastev (IWM, Centre for Liberal Strategies, Sofia), Muna Duzdar (State Secretary for Diversity, Public Administration and Digital Agenda, Vienna) and Stefan Jonsson (REMESO, Linköping University)
Moderation by:
Shalini Randeria (IWM, Vienna)
The second part of a discussion on the role which fear is playing in redeveloping European societies.
Discussion with:
Jan-Werner Müller (IWM, Princeton University), Timothy Colton (IWM, Harvard and Cambridge universities), Isolde Charim (Philosopher, Vienna) and Markus Rheindorf (University of Vienna)
Moderation by:
Paweł Marczewski (IWM, Vienna)
A discussion on the future of the EU in the face of rising nationalism.
Discussion with:
Anton Shekhovtsov (IWM, Legatum Institute, London), Erhard Busek (IDM, Vienna) and Vedran Džihić (oiip)
Moderation by:
Viola Raheb (University of Vienna)
A discussion on current topics and critical junctures for thinking and researching in the field of refugees, migration and democracy.
An opening speech by:
Petar Bojanić (IFDT, University of Belgrade, CAS SEE, University of Rijeka)
Discussion with:
Mariana Fragkou (Greek Council for Refugees, Athens), Andjelka Pantović (Asylum Protection Centre, Belgrade), Sanja Bojanić (CAS SEE, University of Rijeka), Kevin Hinterberger (IWM, University of Vienna), Ilker Ataç (University of Vienna) and Ernesto C. Sferrazza Papa (CAS SEE Fellow, Rijeka/Torino)
Moderation by:
Heide Hammer (Refugee Convoy – Schienenersatzverkehr für Flüchtlinge, Vienna)
A discussion about how the media creates our image of the “refugee crisis” and what can be done about it.
Discussion with:
Erik Valenčič (RTV Slovenija, Ljubljana) Lisa Pelling (Arena Idé, Stockholm), İpek Yezdani (Hürriyet, Istanbul), Simone Egarter (das biber, Vienna) and Ivana Dragičević (N1, Zagreb)
Moderation by:
Joanna Bostock (FM4, Vienna)
Organisations and sponsors:
Eine Veranstaltung von / an event by
Initiative Minderheiten, Centre for Advanced Studies South Eastern Europe (CAS SEE), ERSTE Stiftung,
Institut für die Wissenschaften vom Menschen (IWM), asylkoordination österreich, arge region kultur, GBW Minderheiten, Interkulturelles Zentrum (IZ) & Karl-Renner-Institut
In Kooperation mit / in cooperation with
ÖBB-Holding, Akademie der bildenden Künste Wien, Stadtkino im Künstlerhaus, REMESO (Institute for Migration, Ethnicity and Society, Linköping University), oiip (Austrian Institute for International Affairs), IDM (Institute for the Danube Region and Central Europe) & Donau-Universität Krems
Unterstützt von / supported by
MA 17 – Stadt Wien & Europe for Citizens Programme of the European Union
