“We are in a fight”: Professor of Politics Dr. Ewa Atanassow speaks at international conference on Challenges to Liberalism in Turbulent Times 

Professor of Politics Ewa Atanassow spoke at an international conference on “Challenges to Liberalism in Turbulent Times.” She was part of a panel​ discussion on the contemporary relevance​ of liberalism.

Organized by the think tank Zentrum Liberale Modern, the ​conference brought together thought leaders, policymakers, and members of civil society to explore​ the ​current state ​of liberal​ democracy and the rise of nationalist populism as a defining feature of our time.​ The conference asked how liberal democracies can enhance their performance in addressing political, economic, and ecological challenges, and examined how the shortcomings of liberalism have fueled the current crisis. Furthermore, attendees tackled populist issues like migration, safeguarding freedom through “robust democracy,” navigating relations with authoritarian powers, and defining liberal democracy’s role in the emerging global order.

In an article about the conference published in taz, Nina Apin writes, “Ewa Atanassow also made it clear: ‘We are in a fight,’ and German society must finally understand that. If it wants to survive as a political offering, liberalism must rediscover patriotism and nationhood - a strong state is a basic condition for civil liberties.”

Atanassow's call to action highlights the urgent need for a renewed commitment to the core values of liberalism in a time of global uncertainty. 

Post Date: 01-29-2025