“Kultur ist ein Lebenselixier für unsere Demokratie.” ‒ Claudia Roth
When Claudia Roth, the German Minister of State for Culture, insisted that a thriving, independent and diverse cultural landscape is not only an indication of a functioning democracy, but also a precondition for it, she was acknowledging the fundamental role that art and culture play in the promotion of democratic discourse.
In this seminar, scholars from Canada, Germany, and elsewhere will be investigating how contemporary German culture reflects and responds to current discourses on democracy. At a time when democratic systems across the globe are under pressure and debate is increasingly polarized, how does German-language culture represent and comment on the state of democracy? When populist parties and anti-democratic movements across Europe and around the world are gaining traction and accepted forms of democratic political organization and engagement are being questioned or undermined, how does culture - literature, theatre, the arts, museums - narrate and analyze concepts of citizenship, democracy, and individual and collective agency? The participants in this seminar will examine how the conceptualization of democratic practices intersects with other discourses and influences, and reflect on how cultural artefacts can intervene and become active participants themselves in discourses on democracy.
Seminar convenors:
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Prof. Gabriele Mueller, York University
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Prof. James Skidmore, University of Waterloo
Details
The seminar is being held on Thursday, April 9 and Friday, April 10, 2026, at the Balsillie School of International Affairs, 67 Erb Street West in Waterloo, Ontario.
Visitors who wish to sit in on and listen to the discussions are welcome. Registration will open by mid-March.
Information will be updated on an ongoing basis - click on the call-to-action buttons below. If you have questions or comments, please contact Prof. James Skidmore, Director, Waterloo Centre of German Studies.