FOCUS

Democracy, Diversity and Social Cohesion

Democracy ensures participation, diversity guarantees better solutions, and social cohesion undermines polarisation. Learning from history means striving to do better: we want to counter the question ‘how could this have happened?’ with new perspectives when it comes to citizens’ participation in decision-making and the protection of the rule of law and justice.

We organise events and forums under the motto: Let’s dare to embrace more democracy, more diversity and more solidarity!

“We must ensure that things do not return to the way they were in the 1930s, when the political parties were at each other’s throats, to the detriment of all Austrians.”
Tuesday
5 PM
13 October 2026
Intercultural Achievement Award 2026
Democracy, diversity and cohesion

Intercultural Achievement Award 2026

Bruno Kreisky Special
To the Registration
Wednesday
7 PM
14 October 2026
DANCE ON THE VOLCANO. Destructiveness in contemporary authoritarianism
Democracy, diversity and cohesion

DANCE ON THE VOLCANO. Destructiveness in contemporary authoritarianism

Robert Misik in conversation with Vera King
Panel discussion
To the Registration
Wednesday
6 PM
4 November 2026
ARI RATH PRIZE FOR CRITICAL JOURNALISM
Democracy, diversity and cohesion

ARI RATH PRIZE FOR CRITICAL JOURNALISM

with Alexandra Föderl-Schmid, Ferdiand Lacina, Hans Rauscher, Heide Schmidt, Renata Schmidtkunz
Bruno Kreisky Special
To the Registration
Tuesday
7 PM
24 November 2026
A warning from Afghanistan for every woman
Democracy, diversity and cohesion

A warning from Afghanistan for every woman

Solmaz Khorsand in conversation with Zahra Joya
Thursday
7 PM
26 November 2026
THE GLORY AND MISERY OF THE CONSERVATIVES
Democracy, diversity and cohesion

THE GLORY AND MISERY OF THE CONSERVATIVES

Robert Misik in conversation with Roger de Weck
Panel discussion
To the Registration

PAST EVENTS

Tuesday
7 PM
6 October 2026
EDUCATION IN CRUELTY. The Mass Psychology of the New Fascism
Democracy, diversity and cohesion

EDUCATION IN CRUELTY. The Mass Psychology of the New Fascism

Robert Misik in conversation with Ilkim Erdost, Markus Brunner, Eva Zeglovits, Wolfgang Schröder
Panel discussion
To the The event
Thursday
7 PM
1 October 2026
BRAVER NEW WORLD. Bravely into the future
Democracy, diversity and cohesion

BRAVER NEW WORLD. Bravely into the future

Tessa Szyszkowitz in conversation with John Kampfner
Panel discussion
To the The event
Thursday
7 PM
17 September 2026
THE CITY OF TOMORROW – A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE, INNOVATIVE, PRODUCTIVE AND SOCIALLY JUST
Democracy, diversity and cohesion

THE CITY OF TOMORROW – A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE, INNOVATIVE, PRODUCTIVE AND SOCIALLY JUST

with Barbara Novak, Barbara Tóth and Anna Thalhammer
Panel discussion
To the The event
Monday
7 PM
7 September 2026
Political »classics« of the New Right. Anti-democratic thinkers from the Weimar Republic
Democracy, diversity and cohesion

Political »classics« of the New Right. Anti-democratic thinkers from the Weimar Republic

Robert Misik in conversation with Armin Pfhal-Traughber
Panel discussion
To the The event
Tuesday
7 PM
23 Jun 2026
IN THE INTELLECTUAL CIVIL WAR? Thought, ideologies and intellectual history of the radical right
Democracy, diversity and cohesion

IN THE INTELLECTUAL CIVIL WAR? Thought, ideologies and intellectual history of the radical right

Robert Misik in conversation with Volker Weiß, Gabriela Greilinger
Panel discussion
To the The event
Thursday
7 PM
18 Jun 2026
SLANG, COMMUNICATION AND SOCIAL MEDIA OF THE NEW RIGHT
Democracy, diversity and cohesion

SLANG, COMMUNICATION AND SOCIAL MEDIA OF THE NEW RIGHT

Cathrin Kahlweit in conversation with Natascha Strobl, Kira Ayyadi
Panel discussion
To the The event
Thursday
7 PM
11 Jun 2026
THE GLOBAL RIGHT
Democracy, diversity and cohesion

THE GLOBAL RIGHT

Robert Misik in conversation with Marcel Lewandowsky
Panel discussion
To the The event
Wednesday
7 PM
27 May 2026
THE GEN Z ON THE RIGHT COURSE: SOCIAL MEDIA, SEDUCTION AND YOUTH CULTURE
Democracy, diversity and cohesion

THE GEN Z ON THE RIGHT COURSE: SOCIAL MEDIA, SEDUCTION AND YOUTH CULTURE

Robert Misik in conversation with Rafid Kabir, Antonie Rietzschel
Panel discussion
To the The event
Tuesday
7 PM
26 May 2026
States of Solidarity: How to Build a Society
Democracy, diversity and cohesion

States of Solidarity: How to Build a Society

with Hendrik Wagenaar, Barbara Prainsack, Donna Andrews
Panel discussion
To the The event
Tuesday
7 PM
12 May 2026
The Courage to be Disagreeable. A Guide to Political Defiance.
Democracy, diversity and cohesion

The Courage to be Disagreeable. A Guide to Political Defiance.

Robert Misik in conversation with Monika Mokre, Matthias Meisner
Panel discussion
To the The event
Tuesday
7 PM
05 May 2026
Rudolf Scholten, Richard Pils, Cornelius Obonya
Democracy, diversity and cohesion

HELLMUT BUTTERWECKS „POSSIBILITIES“

with Rudolf Scholten, Richard Pils, Cornelius Obonya
Panel discussion
To the The event
Tuesday
6 PM
05 May 2026
Horst Biedermann, Elisabeth Fuchs, Ulrike Greiner
Democracy, diversity and cohesion

THE SIX-YEAR PRIMARY SCHOOL – VISION AND REALITY

with Horst Biedermann, Elisabeth Fuchs, Ulrike Greiner
Panel discussion
To the The event
Monday
7 PM
27 Apr 2026
MODERN DISSENTERS
Democracy, diversity and cohesion

MODERN DISSENTERS

Cathrin Kahlweit in conversation with Michal Hvorecký
Monday
7 PM
13 Apr 2026
RESISTANCE, SOLIDARITY AND THE FUTURE OF DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTSRESISTANCE, SOLIDARITY AND THE FUTURE OF DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS
Democracy, diversity and cohesion

RESISTANCE, SOLIDARITY AND THE FUTURE OF DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS

Solmaz Khorsand in conversation with Order Tekkal
Panel discussion
To the The event
Thursday
7 PM
19 Mar 2026
Donald Trump and the God Warriors
Democracy, diversity and cohesion

Donald Trump and the God Warriors

Robert Misik in conversation with Linda Kreuzer, Wolfgang Palaver
Monday
7 PM
16 Mar 2026
The Art of Resistance
Democracy, diversity and cohesion

The Art of Resistance

Robert Misik in conversation with Robert Misik
Tuesday
7 PM
10 Mar 2026
How can one govern today, Mr Schmidt?
Democracy, diversity and cohesion

How can one govern today, Mr Schmidt?

Robert Misik in conversation with Wolfgang Schmidt
Wednesday
7 PM
25 Feb 2026
SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY OF THE AUTHORITARIAN
Democracy, diversity and cohesion

Social Psychology of the Authoritarian

Robert Misik in conversation with Markus Brunner, Hans-Jürgen Wirth
Tuesday
7 PM
10 Feb 2026
How to Oppose Putin and His War from Exile
Democracy, diversity and cohesion

How to Oppose Putin and His War from Exile

Tessa Szyszkowitz in conversation with Leonid Volkov
Tuesday
7 PM
27 Jan 2026
Stoic Ways
Democracy, diversity and cohesion

Stoic Ways

with Robert Misik in conversation with Helmuth Lethen