Talk 1: How Resilient Is Our Democracy Really?

Shaping and Protecting the Diverse Society Justly 

Experts and those affected will talk about the responsibility of the book fair, the publishing industry and society, among others.

Throughout Europe, anti-democratic and right-wing extremist tendencies are gaining popularity. This is a worrying development, which President of the Office for the Protection of the Constitution Thomas Haldenwang addressed a few months ago in Berlin at the presentation of the report on the protection of the constitution: Right-wing extremism continues to be the greatest threat to democracy in Germany. 

This was made particularly clear by the uncovered cases of right-wing extremist groups in the police and the Bundeswehr or by racist terrorist attacks such as those in Hanau and Halle. 

How can we combat an anti-democratic movement that has a strong network effect on our society? What political, legal and civil society instruments of defense are there? How can people be protected from attacks? 

Together with experts and those affected, the responsibility of the book fair, the publishing industry, journalism, the state and society will be discussed and what changes urgently need to be pushed forward.