October 13 to 15, 2010

9th Dialogue on Science
Challenging Democracy

How much independence, courage and civil disobedience is needed for an authentic political dialogue? What requirements and constraints are necessary so citizens are able and want to make use of their rights? What is the essence of direct and applied democracy?

During the ninth Dialogue on Science, experts from various disciplines and countries with different forms of government will discuss with you on the following three thematic blocks «Science and Democracy», «Freedom of Choice» and «Future of Democracy in a globalized World». As usual, young scientists will be actively engaged in the presentations and discussions.

The Programme in brief

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13

Opening of the Conference
Klaus Hug, President of the Foundation

The Challenges to Democracy in the 21st Century (Abstract)
Hanspeter Kriesi, University Zurich

Scenic Representation
Direction: Hartmut Wickert, Zurich University of Arts

Chair: Klaus Hug

SCIENCE AND DEMOCRACY

Chair: Regula Valérie Burri

Life, Death and Democracy (Abstract)
Herbert Gottweis, University Vienna

Anticipatory Governance of Science and Technology Challenges to Democracy (Abstract)
Daniel Barben, RWTH Aachen

Why Democracy? A philosophical Defense against the most subtile ones among its Defiers (Abstract) 
Günter Abel, TU Berlin

Talk with young scientists
Gerd Folkers, Collegium Helveticum

Open Evening (in German)
Demokratie – wer gibt den Ton an?
Diskussionsleitung: Ellinor von Kauffungen
Annemarie Huber-Hotz, a. Bundeskanzlerin
Hans Hess, Ständerat OW
Thomas Held, Avenir Suisse
Ueli Fässler, a. Regierungsrat LU
Karl Lüönd, Publizist

Chair: Martha Bächler

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14

FREEDOM OF CHOICE

Chair: Hans Rudolf Heinimann

Troubles with Voters ... and those who try to fix them (Abstract) 
Arthur Lupia, University of Michigan 

Clashes of the Absolutes? Coping with moral Conflicts in Genopolitics (Abstract) 
Wolfgang van den Daele, Social Science Research Center, Berlin

Mass Media and Public Opinion: Manipulating or Enligthening? (Abstract) 
Jörg Matthes, University of Zurich

Talk with young scientists

Scope and limitations of Democracy
YES Presentation and discussion

Chair: Fabio Segura

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15

THE FUTURE OF DEMOCRACY IN A GLOBALIZED WORLD

Chair: Hanspeter Kriesi

Democracy in Decline? (Abstract)
Wolfgang Merkel, Social Science Research Center Berlin

Democratic Representation in an Internationalized and Globalized World (Abstract) 
Stefanie Bailer, ETH Zurich

Demoikratie: Present and Future (Abstract) 
Francis Cheneval, Université libre de Bruxelles

Talk with young scientists

Democracy and Federalism (Abstract) 
Arnold Koller, former Federal Councillor

Closing Remarks and Outlook
Klaus Hug, President of the Foundation

The programme in detail

The 2010 conference is organised in a carbon neutral manner.