This year’s conference of the “Communication and Politics” division of the German Communication Association (DGPuK) will take place in Hamburg on the topic of “Democratic Resilience as a Task for Political Communication in an Unstable World.” The aim of the annual conference is to focus attention on how political communication and political communication research can contribute to strengthening liberal democracy. The following questions will be discussed:
- Where can we find political communication that actually promotes democratic participation and understanding?
- What characterizes political communication that counteracts social polarization?
- How do different forms of regulation, such as those of digital platforms, affect democratic resilience?
- And finally: To what extent can, should, or will researchers contribute to strengthening liberal democracy?
The conference “Demokratische Resilienz als Aufgabe für die politische Kommunikation in einer instabilen Welt” [Democratic Resilience as a Task for Political Communication in an Unstable World] is organized by Prof. Dr. Katharina Kleinen-von Königslöw, Prof. Dr. Judith Möller, Prof. Dr. Cornelius Puschmann, and Dr. Lisa Merten.
The keynote and some of the presentations will be held in English. You can find more information in the conference program
Presentations with the Participation of Researchers from the HBI
Session 1: German Political Communication Research on Democratic Resilience
5.2.2026: 10:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Criminals or Heroes? How Media Portrayals of Climate Movements Shape Affective Polarization
Clara Schultz, Lisa Merten, Edda Humprecht, Cornelius Puschmann, Felix Böhning
From Reflection to Delegation: Political Autonomy in the Era of GenAI
Michael V. Reiss
Session 4: Nachrichtenrepertoires und Medieneffekte [News Repertoires and Media Effects]
5.2.2026: 3:15 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.
Politik auf TikTok? Informationspraktiken junger Menschen im Kontext der Bundestagswahl 2025[Politics on TikTok? Young People’s Information Practices in the Context of the 2025 Federal Election]
Leonie Alatassi, Judith Möller, Philipp Kessling
Session 6: Medieninhalte und demokratische Resilienz[Media Content and Democratic Resilience]
6.2.2026: 11:00 a.m. -12:30 p.m.
Zwischen Medienkritik und Meinungsvielfalt: Der Diskurs über deutsche Waffenlieferungen in die Ukraine [Between Media Criticism and Diversity of Opinion: The Discourse on German Arms Deliveries to Ukraine]
Laura Liebig, Gregor Wiedemann, Katharina Kleinen-von Königslöw
