How can democracy be sustainably strengthened in times of social upheaval, growing polarisation and global crises? What role do education, culture and civic engagement play in promoting democratic resilience?
The conference ‘Strengthening Democracy – Resilience as a Task for Society as a Whole’, which is being jointly organised by the Federal Chancellor Helmut Schmidt Foundation and Helmut Schmidt University/University of the German Armed Forces, Hamburg, on 15 and 16 October 2026.
The focus is on a society-wide perspective on resilience that encompasses more than just the resilience of political institutions. It is only through interaction with an engaged civil society and individual skills that democracy can be strengthened and made fit for the future. Educational and cultural institutions, foundations and associations play a key role in this: they create spaces for dialogue, promote democratic skills and empower people to participate in and help shape society.
The conference will present selected practical formats and approaches for promoting democratic resilience and invites participants to engage in discussion and networking.
The conference ‘Strengthening Democracy – Resilience as a Task for Society as a Whole’ is funded by the Böttcher Foundation.