I.01. Can Universities Help to Solve the Crisis in Democracy?

This panel addresses the pressing question of whether universities can go beyond just studying the crisis on democracy and play a pivotal role in actually revitalising democratic resilience amidst global challenges such as voter apathy, rising populism, widespread disinformation, and escalating socio-economic inequality. Traditional approaches to civic education often fall short in cultivating citizens equipped to navigate today’s complex informational landscape. This panel seeks to explore how universities can move beyond knowledge production through research and traditional knowledge transmission, towards transformative practices that empower students and communities with critical awareness, media literacy, and the capacity for discerning fact from opinion. We invite contributions that examine innovative educational strategies, research initiatives, and also public engagement models through which higher education institutions can foster active participation within inclusive democratic spaces. Discussions will delve into how universities can cultivate an ethical consciousness and active public engagement that intrinsically link justice, freedom, and collective action and responsibility. The panel will explore critical, ethical, and participatory proposals for renewing democratic principles and practices, identifying concrete ways in which universities can leverage their unique position to strengthen democratic institutions and civic virtues in an increasingly fractured world.

Prosoed topics for this panel:

Transformative Pedagogies for Critical Citizenship and Media Literacy

University-Led Initiatives for Civic Engagement and Democratic Renewal

The University as a Site for Deliberative Democracy and Ethical Development

Can university Research and Expertise Counter Disinformation and Populism?