How can political opinions be formed in a diverse society, both online and offline? The upcoming edition of the Context Collapse salon series will address this question. The Hamburg section of the Research Institute Social Cohesion (RISC) is hosting the event in collaboration with Bücherhallen Hamburg.
The event “Gesellschaftliche Vielfalt und politische Meinungsbildung” [Social Diversity and Political Opinion Formation] will be held in German.
Expert Input & Discussion
In his introductory statement, Jan Rau argues that Western democracies are reaching their limits. Social diversity and new digital public spheres generate more political voices and conflicts than existing institutions can handle. Digital media act as amplifiers in this process. They open up discourse to new participants but also fuel polarization and confrontational debates.
Jan Rau conducts research on digital echo chambers, the manipulation of public opinion online, and right-wing movements on the internet at the Leibniz Institute for Media Research | Hans-Bredow-Institut (HBI) and the Hamburg section of the Research Institute Social Cohesion (RISC).
In another presentation, Hannah Göppert outlines formats that facilitate genuine dialogue. Drawing on the Open Society Initiative’s practical experience, she provides concrete examples. How can we successfully build a shared understanding, especially in times of social fragmentation and polarization? Furthermore, she broadens the perspective to include the political dimension. She introduces the field of public policy and asks which platforms, media, and competencies our democracy requires, and where the most important priorities lie.
Hannah Göppert is the Executive Director of the Open Society Initiative and the Demokratienetzwerk Faktor D [democracy network]. In her work, she is committed to strengthening and advancing democratic culture, with a particular focus on participation and dialogue.
Moderator: PD Dr. Jan-Hinrik Schmidt
The Event Format
Much like the “context collapse” — the digital fragmentation of the boundaries between established subcommunities and the clash of different social groups in the digital space — we aim to step outside our institutional filter bubble this evening. Our goal is to bring together people from diverse backgrounds and perspectives. The event format is designed to facilitate discussions and conversations among participants. Instead of long lectures, we will rely on brief inputs from experts. These will be followed by in-depth discussions in small groups. Our goal is to create a space where participants can exchange perspectives, knowledge, and experiences, and develop new approaches to the central questions facing our democracies and societies.
