Why protect Democracy?

Our democracy thrives on dialogue – yet this dialogue is becoming harsher, louder and often more irreconcilable. And this raises the question: what still holds our society together? Amidst disinformation, polarisation and growing mistrust, the foundations we all share are coming under pressure. It is at the local level that we decide how we treat one another – in everyday life, in voluntary work, and in our neighbourhoods. What defines our democracy – and why is it worth protecting? How can we tolerate differing opinions without losing social cohesion? And what responsibility does each and every one of us bear for treating one another with respect? ‘Kontrovers vor Ort’ creates space for open discussions, different perspectives and new insights. For everyone who doesn’t just want to watch from the sidelines, but wishes to play an active part in shaping our democracy.

Our guest, Stephan J. Kramer, born in 1968, completed his Master’s degree in Social Pedagogy in Erfurt and has been President of the "Amt für Verfassungsschutz des Freistaates Thüringen" since 2015. Prior to this, from 1999 to 2014, he was Managing Director and later Secretary-General of the "Zentralrat der Juden" in Germany.

With Stephan J. Kramer, President of the Thuringian "Amt für Verfassungsschutz"

In cooperation with the "Volkshochschule Mittelsachsen" and the Saxon "Landeszentrale für politische Bildung"

As part of the "Kontrovers vor Ort" series

Registration link to follow

All information on the series ‘What does democracy mean (to us)?’