How can liberal democracies defend themselves against authoritarian threats from within? All over Europe and beyond, the upsurge of right-wing populist and neo-fascist parties raises the question of how liberal democracies can prepare for potential anti-democratic majorities in their parliaments and protect democracy and the rule of law against hostile takeovers. Does the protection of liberal democracy justify illiberal means?

Please join HELA and CES for a discussion that will illuminate these issues of ‘militant democracy’ from the perspective of the European Union, Germany, and the United States.

Speakers:

• • Daniel Ziblatt, Eaton Professor of Government, Director of the Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies, Harvard University; Unit Director ‘Transformations of Democracy’, WZB Berlin Social Science Center
  • Christoph Möllers, Professor of Public Law and Jurisprudence, Humboldt University of Berlin; Permanent Fellow, The Institute for Advanced Study Berlin
  • Till Patrik Holterhus, Professor of Constitutional and Administrative Law, International Public Law and Comparative Law, Director of the Center for European and International Law, Leuphana University Lüneburg
  • Ofrit Liviatan, Lecturer on Law and Politics, Director of the Freshman Seminar Program, Harvard University