Future of democracy: Experts discuss challenges in Berlin

Future of democracy: Experts discuss challenges in Berlin

Urania Berlin, Deutschland - On April 22, 2025, there is a significant discussion that deals with the development of parliamentary democracy in England, the USA and France from the 18th century. The event will take place on April 29 at 7.30 p.m. in Urania Berlin and is organized by the Scripts Excellence Cluster. Entry costs 8 euros, reduced 5 euros. Participants will be Natascha Freundel, a well-known journalist and editor at the RBB-Radio3, as well as Philipp Lepenies, professor of political science at the Free University of Berlin. Freundel is also a moderator of the debate podcast "The second thought".

The series of discussions "Futuring the Liberal Script" was launched in 2021 to illuminate crisis and challenges of liberal democracies. This discussion particularly illustrates the importance of constant renewal and legitimation by citizens and elected representatives. However, it goes beyond the mere historical view and also addresses the fragility of the parliamentary democracies and their historical threats.

The historical context of democracy

The transition to parliamentary democracy has a long history that was shaped by decisive events such as the French Revolution and the American Revolution. Both revolutions promoted an egalitarian spirit that questioned old hierarchies and enabled more political participation. The American revolution led to a stable Republican order, but the French Revolution did not bring the same. Instead, violence and Napoleon's regime followed, which influenced the political landscape sustainably reports the State Center for Political Education Baden-Württemberg .

In the 19th century, many democratic efforts in Europe were strongly suppressed, and the goal of a stable democratic order seemed far away. In Germany, for example, revolutionary, democratic reforms and national unity tried to demand, however, no real democracy could prevail. On May 18, 1848, the first freely chosen overall German parliament met in the Paulskirche in Frankfurt, but Germany remained a constitutional monarchy until 1918. This monarchy was restricted by constitutions, but the monarchs kept the right to dissolve parliaments.

The way to democracy in Germany

Political development in Germany was characterized by great differences between the states. While in Prussia there was a right to vote in Prussia until 1918, other states such as Baden and Württemberg had more advanced voting rights and constitutions. Democratic processes could be practiced in these regions. Women only fought their right to vote with the fall of the monarchies in 1918/19, but had previously initiated an active women's movement. The Weimar Republic (1918–1933) finally represented the first democracy on German soil, including the general and the same right to vote for men and women.

After the end of the Second World War, democracy in Germany was rebuilt, strongly shaped by the experiences of the Nazi terrorist regime. The Basic Law passed in 1949 gave democracy in Germany a constitutional framework and had clear influences of the general declaration of human rights from 1948. The upcoming discussion in Berlin will therefore not only offer historical perspectives, but also raise the current challenges and questions that affect democracy. The Freie Universität Berlin makes an important contribution to the debate about democratic values ​​and its future form.