Joachim Gauck as a guest at the European University Viadrina – Book presentation "Erschütterungen: What threatens our democracy from outside and within"

On Monday, April 15, 6:15 p.m., former German President Joachim Gauck will present his book "Erschütterungen: Was unsere Demokratie von außen und innen bedroht" at the European University Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder). Together with his co-author Helga Hirsch, he explores the question of what has shaken trust in liberal democracy and how it can be regained.

In conversation with Prof. Dr. Andrii Portnov, holder of the Entangled History of Ukraine professorship at Viadrina and co-director of the Viadrina Center of Polish and Ukrainian Studies, Joachim Gauck sheds light on the changes in German-Polish-Ukrainian relations. Gauck and Portnov will discuss the extent to which the Russian war of aggression has led to a rethink in German foreign policy, what role experiences from the GDR play in current discussions and what gaps there are in German perceptions of itself and others. The event is part of the Jerzy Giedroyc Research Colloquium.

Interested parties are welcome to attend the book presentation and subsequent discussion in the Senate Hall, Room 109 in the main building of the Viadrina after registering online.

Joachim Gauck will sign books afterwards and will be available for discussions; the Ulrich von Hutten bookshop will provide a book table.

When and where?

Monday, April 15, 2024 | 6.15 p.m.
In the Senate Hall, Room 109 in the main building of the Viadrina
Große Scharrnstraße 59, 15230 Frankfurt (Oder)
 

About the book: "Erschütterungen: Was unsere Demokratie von außen und innen bedroht" by Joachim Gauck and Helga Hirsch was published by Siedler-Verlag in May 2023. The publisher's announcement states: "The Russian invasion of Ukraine is threatening our liberal democracy at a time when it is also under pressure from within. How did this come about? Together with his co-author Helga Hirsch, former German President Joachim Gauck explores the question of why the trust of many citizens in our liberal democracy has been shaken. What is threatening our democracy from within? What role do authoritarian and libertarian dispositions play in times of crisis? How much immigration can a democracy tolerate? (...) In a very impressive and personal way, Joachim Gauck shows how many certainties about the stability of democracy have been lost in recent years - and how we can succeed in defending our liberal freedoms in the future and actually become a defensive democracy."

The Jerzy Giedroyc Research Colloquium: The colloquium, jointly organized by five professorships of the European University Viadrina, invites international academics and representatives from politics, civil society and business to discuss questions of Eastern Europe on the German-Polish border in the spirit of the writer, politician and journalist Jerzy Giedroyc (1906–2000) and to set new impulses for a "Europeanization from the East". Program of the Jerzy Giedroyc Research Colloquium: link