As part of the CIVICA European University Alliance, this seminar contributes to ongoing higher education cooperation in Europe by advancing cutting-edge debate in the social sciences. This event marks the first session of a 12-occasion Winter-Spring 2026 seminar series dedicated to rethinking the welfare-democracy nexus in an era of polarization and third-wave autocratization.
The opening event of the Global Forum on Democracy and Development Seminar Series examines how the radical right is transforming capitalism and welfare arrangements on both sides of the Atlantic. Drawing on interdisciplinary academic research and European research collaboration, the session explores whether these political forces challenge, adapt, or strategically use existing welfare systems - and what this means for redistribution, social rights, and democratic accountability.
What to Expect
- A comparative analysis grounded in pioneering social science research
- Discussion of how welfare policies are reframed, restructured, or instrumentalized
- Insights into the changing relationship between capitalism, redistribution, and political power
- Interdisciplinary dialogue across political science, sociology, and policy studies
Why Attend
- Engage with leading debates in European social sciences
- Strengthen your understanding of contemporary political transformations
- Connect with scholars involved in European academic cooperation
- Explore how social sciences research for policymakers informs debates on democracy and development
Event Details
Date: 25 February
Time: Wednesdays, 15:00 - 16:30 (CET)
Format: Online (fully remote)
Audience: Doctoral and MA students, postgraduate researchers, and interested scholars globally
Organiser: Dorottya Szikra, CEU Democracy Institute
