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Does democracy have a future?


Under this title, the law firm Haslinger / Nagele and the Walter Haslinger Private Foundation invited to the Constitutional Law Symposium 2023 at the Palais Niederösterreich in Vienna’s Herrengasse on October 3rd, 2023. The event was held under the patronage of the former President of the Constitutional Court, Univ.-Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Gerhart Holzinger.

Renowned speakers had their say: the well-known German jurist, former Minister of the Interior of the Free State of Thuringia and Judge of the Federal Constitutional Court from 2010 to 2023, Univ.-Prof. Dr. Peter M. Huber (Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich), dealt with the topic “Democracy in Crisis” from a German and European perspective, Univ.-Prof. Prof. Dr. Magdalena Pöschl (University of Vienna) spoke on the topic “Is ‘More Direct Democracy’ the Solution?” and Univ-Prof. Dr. Christiane Wendehorst (University of Vienna) on the question “Democracy and the Internet – a Toxic Relationship?”.

In the subsequent panel discussion, chaired by BA Wolfgang Sablatnig (Tiroler Tageszeitung), the aforementioned speakers, along with FH-Prof. MMag. Dr. Kathrin Stainer-Hämmerle (University of Applied Sciences Carinthia) and Univ.-Prof. Dr. Reinhard C. Heinisch (Paris-Lodron University Salzburg), discussed the current challenges to democracy. The tenor of both the presentations and the opinions expressed in the discussion was that there is indeed reason to be concerned about democracy. Just a few years ago, democracy in Austria and Europe as a whole, seemed firmly established and on the rise worldwide. Today, the enthusiasm of the 1990s has largely faded. Global democratic backsliding is sadly a fact. Even countries in the European Union are no longer immune to authoritarian tendencies. In Austria, as well, not everything that glitters is gold! Opinion polls show a quite worrisome trend here too. Various crises over the past two decades, most recently the COVID-19 pandemic and associated government measures as well as the return of war to Europe with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, have played a significant role. In addition, social media and other digital manipulation and abuse possibilities pose a particular threat to democracy: the Internet and social media have dramatically changed traditional communication channels and, consequently, democratic discourse! The main conclusion to be drawn from the symposium is that, even here in Austria, we must be vigilant. Democracy and the Constitutional State (“Rechtsstaat”) cannot be taken for granted! Our democracy only has a future if citizens take responsibility for it. Because: there is no democracy without democrats!

 

9. October 2023

 
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