Democracy Talk #11: How to make people defend liberal democracy?

Many citizens define democracy primarily in terms of free elections and majority rule, while placing much less value on liberal principles such as checks and balances and civil liberties. This allows illiberal leaders to present themselves as ‘true democrats’. In addition, it enables aspiring authoritarians to successfully subvert the liberal elements of democracy in the name of the will of the majority.

How can we improve citizens’ understanding of democracy? How can we convince them of the essential role of media freedom, an independent judiciary, minority rights, etc. for the proper functioning of democracy? Can learning about democracy increase support for it and reduce acceptance of authoritarian rule? What kind of civic education is most suitable in this regard: school education, online education, or some other approach?

We will discuss these and other questions with Anja Neundorf, Professor of Politics and Research Methods at the School of Social and Political Sciences at the University of Glasgow, where she currently works on “Democracy under Threat: How Education can Save it”.

Tuesday, 10 March 2026

6pm

at FES Regional Office Vienna, Reichsratsstraße 13/12, 1010 Vienna (take the elevator to the 4th floor).

The event is co-organised with the Department of Political Science at Central European University.