Doing Democracy: Civil society and academia network across borders at Viadrina

The European University Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder) and the Social Science Institute of the SWPS University of Warsaw invite you to the German-Polish networking event "Doing Democracy: Connecting Academia and Civil Society Across Borders" in Frankfurt (Oder) and Słubice on Thursday and Friday, 23 and 24 April 2026, as part of the European Reform University Alliance (ERUA). For two days, the focus will be on impulses, dialogue and exchange in the field of democracy work across the German-Polish border. Interested parties are invited to take part in public discussion formats. The event marks the 35th anniversary of the German-Polish Neighbourhood Treaty this year.

"The German-Polish Neighbourhood Treaty of 1991 and the re-founding of the European University Viadrina a few weeks later stand for a common vision: to permanently strengthen the German-Polish dialogue in a united Europe and to work together across borders," says Prof. Dr Eduard Mühle, President of the European University Viadrina. For Viadrina, the treaty is not only a historical point of reference, but also a mandate to shape the important issues of the present and future in German-Polish dialogue – in research, teaching and social exchange across borders.

The networking event aims to bring science and practice into dialogue with a view to strengthening democracy. Civil society organisations from Germany and Poland that are committed to political education, community building, democratic participation, human rights protection, the prevention of extremism and social cohesion, as well as researchers and students from both countries who deal with these topics academically, are invited. The event offers the opportunity to contribute experiences and concerns, provide new impetus and find cooperation partners who pursue similar goals – across fields of work and national borders.

Associations, alliances, initiatives, researchers and students submit their work and concerns in advance on posters. This forms the basis for the topics of the working groups, such as "Challenges in strengthening dialogue and community participation", "Political education and youth in times of social media (dis)information" or "Strategies in the fight against hate speech and right-wing extremism".

Public events as part of Doing Democracy

All public events will be interpreted into German-Polish on site and into English in the live stream.

Doing Democracy: Why network science and civil society in the field of "democracy"?

Thursday, 23 April 2026 | 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Location: Logensaal, European University Viadrina

Welcome: Prof. Dr. Eduard Mühle, President of the European University Viadrina

A panel discussion on the question of why stronger cooperation between science and civil society in the field of democracy is necessary will kick off the event.

On the panel:
Prof. Mikołaj Cześnik (SWPS Warsaw)
Artur Koldomasov (SWPS Warsaw, inquired)
Dr. Anja Hennig (European University Viadrina)

Moderation: Irene Hahn-Fuhr (Centrum Liberale Moderne / Foundation for German-Polish Cooperation)
 

Chances of democratic participation in times of disinformation

Thursday, 23. April 2026 | 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Location: Meeting room of the City Council Assembly, Frankfurt (Oder)

Panel discussion on the challenges and opportunities of democratic participation in times of disinformation, followed by a reception.

With welcome remarks by Claus Junghanns, Mayor of Frankfurt (Oder)

On the panel:
Prof. Dr Radosław Markowski (SWPS Warsaw)
Krzysztof Izdebski (Batory Foundation Warsaw)
Prof. Dr Gesine Schwan (Berlin Governance Platform)
Dr. Anne Holper (Viadrina Institute for Conflict Management)

The discussion will be complemented by insights into various aspects of civil society.

Moderation: Dr Anja Hennig (European University Viadrina)

Prior registration is required for this event at:  
https://forms.europa-uni.de/form/provide/2402/
 

Future Lab: Topics, formats and conditions for science-practice cooperation

Friday, 24. April 2026 | 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Location: Small auditorium in the Collegium Polonicum, Słubice

The finale of Doing Democracy serves to exchange key findings, experiences gained and to collect ideas for possible projects. The focus will be on the questions of which formats are conceivable for future cooperation and which conditions are necessary for this.

Alfred Roos, Tolerant Brandenburg, the German-Polish Science Foundation, Krzysztof Izdebski, Batory Foundation Warsaw and a representative of the Brandenburg Ministry of Economic Affairs, Energy, Climate Protection and Europe will provide impetus for funding and strategic development.