Democracy: A Security Risk?

For some years, an authoritarian turnaround has occurred in different parts of the world. Autocratic governments seem to increasingly regard democracies as a security risk. In Europe, too, citizens increasingly experience repression when they demand their political and democratic rights. The arming of police and army, the nationwide surveillance and the tightening of laws are increasingly used not only for the fight against terror, but are increasingly used against their own citizens. Civil society engagement becomes more risky and requires more and more courage. Under the banner of security precautions civil rights are reduced.

At the same time, the crisis of Western democracies increases the need for initiatives that fight for the preservation of supposedly obvious rights. In this podium, activists talk about the repression they experience in their day-to-day work, experts talk about the tightening of laws that accompany the heightened anti-terrorism measures, and discuss possible strategies for dealing with anti-democratic currents.