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Institutt for sammenliknende politikk
Symposium

Is there a crisis of democracy in Europe?

Symposium at the University of Bergen following the Stein Rokkan Memorial Lecture of Hanspeter Kriesi.

Hovedinnhold

The rise in right-wing populist parties; overall declining levels of political participation; expected diminishing trust in political institutions; increased delegation of decision-making to non-public or to international organizations; major policy challenges, such as climate change and immigration, and increasing economic inequality: Democracies in Europe are facing tough times and some scholars argue that it is in crisis. Others have argued that, while current times provide challenges, democracy is doing alright and is in fact able to deal with such problems. During this symposium, we will discuss a range of possible threats. We will seek to assess whether democracy can absorb these shocks, whether these shocks were instead mere ripples, or whether democracy is facing indeed a crisis that may cause it to deteriorate.

Programme

9:00 Arrival and welcome

9:20-10:30 Part I: Is there a crisis of democracy in Europe?

Chair: Elisabeth Ivarsflaten

  • Hanspeter Kriesi

Is there a crisis of democracy in Europe?

  • Carolien van Ham

Myth and Reality of the Legitimacy Crisis

Discussion

10:45-12:00 Part II: Challenges in liberal democracies

Chair: Yvette Peters

  • Elisabeth Ivarsflaten

The Inclusion of Muslim Minorities

  • Endre Tvinnereim

Carbon Transition

Discussion

13:00-14:15 Part III: Failing representation?

Chair: Jonas Linde​​​​​​​

  • Yvette Peters

Democratic Representation and political inequality

  • Peter Esaiasson

19 lessons from immigrants in two Swedish suburbs

Discussion

14:30-16:00 Part IV: Fixing democracy?

Chair: Georg Picot​​​​​​​

  • Joost van Spanje

Should Courts Reign in Extremists?

  • Sveinung Arnesen

Can procedural reforms improve democracy?

  • Jonas Linde

Nativist attitudes and notions democracy

16:15-17:00 Concluding Roundtable Discussion

Chair: Elisabeth Ivarsflaten