There is hardly any concept in the social sciences used as much as the term 'crisis'. Democracy – as concrete form and abstract idea – is diagnosed particularly often to be in a crisis. But what actually characterizes the frequently invoked crisis of democracy? And to what extent does it threaten the continued existence of democratic systems?
The evening session traces the relationship of democracy and crisis by presenting and discussing the recently published volume "Demokratie und Krise. Zum schwierigen Verhältnis von Theorie und Empirie" edited by Wolfgang Merkel. The editor and Lea Heyne, one of the contributors, will preface the discussion with keynote speeches. Subsequently they will, together with speakers from various disciplines, go further into the questions if and in which direction democracy's axes of legitimation are shifting, and to what extent there is theoretical and empirical substance to the speaking of a crisis of democracy.
The discussion forum is organized by PRIF, the Leibniz Research Alliance "Crises in a Globalised World" and the Cluster of Excellence "The Formation of Normative Orders". It will be held on 9th June 2015 from 5.15 pm until 7.30 pm at the Normative Orders building, Max-Horkheimer-Str. 2, room EG.01. Admission to this event is free, advance registration is requested: demokratieundkrise@hsfk.de