Respect is reasonable

"From Kreisky's living room"

TESSA SZYSZKOWITZ IN CONVERSATION WITH CAROLIN EMCKE

Respect is reasonable

Note: This event will take place online, not in the Bruno Kreisky Forum on site

The permanent online presence, the constant excitement in podcast and television studios changes personalities beyond recognition, writes Emcke: „In order to gain even a little political or media attention, mistrust and resentment against others are secreted. In the process, a kind of exhibitionism of cold-heartedness has spread, proudly and shamelessly revealing the intellectual avarice and emotional impotence that would rather remain hidden.“

But what can be done to counter this low-level behaviour? Who wants to leave the field to the bullies? It is also immensely important that the culture of discussion does not become radicalised in a way that makes it impossible to talk about certain topics. Carolin Emcke is currently observing this in the Middle East conflict, in the dispute between Israelis and Palestinians - and their sympathisers in Germany and Europe in general. Respect as a core category can help. And another deeply human characteristic that is in danger of being lost in public discourse: empathy.

Caroline Emcke, Studied philosophy, politics and history in London, Frankfurt am Main and at Harvard University. From 1998-2006 editor at Der Spiegel, then international reporter for Die ZEIT (2007-2014). Since 2014 columnist for the Süddeutsche Zeitung and freelance journalist. She has curated and moderated the discussion series „Streitraum“ at the Berliner Schaubühne since 2004/05 and the SZ podcast „In aller Ruhe“ since 2023. Recent publications include: Respekt ist zumutbar (2025), Was wahr ist. On violence and climate (2024), Für den Zweifel (2022).

Awards (selection): Otto Brenner Prize, German Reporter Prize, Johann Heinrich Merck Prize, Lessing Prize, Peace Prize of the German Book Trade, Carl von Ossietzky Prize, Glass of Reason (2024), Mercator Professorship (2024).

Tessa Szyszkowitz, is an Austrian author and journalist who worked as a foreign correspondent in Jerusalem, Brussels and Moscow before moving to London. She writes for Falter, and her articles also appear in Tagesspiegel and NZZ am Sonntag. Her most recent book is “Echte Engländer - Britain and Brexit” (2018). She is a Distinguished Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute in London.