This session of New European Liberalism will focus on the many aspects of liberal communication, from rediscovering the common base of liberal values, and building a liberal brand for citizens and media to using new technologies for better outreach and visibility.
Today, liberalism is under pressure on multiple fronts: populism is still a significant threat for liberal democracy in Europe; the coronavirus pandemic has initiated profound social and political changes that threaten liberal values; technology changes the world and creates policy & ideological challenges; the voting trends across Europe are largely not in favour of the liberals; finally, illiberal regimes on the rise can provoke military conflicts, as shown by the Russian aggression against Ukraine. Overall, liberalism is repeatedly claimted to be in decline across Europe while individual and collective benefits of the liberal political order are increasingly taken for granted.
By bringing together the voices of intellectuals and practitioners from different corners of Europe, this project envisions an exchange of insights and experiences and formulation of liberal solutions for the immediate and long-term future. These expert discussions will result in a manifesto-style document coining an up to date vision of what European liberalism needs to embody in theory and in practice to preserve its central role in our socio-political life.
The goal of this workshop is to define the common strategy for liberal political communication, discuss tactics for political advocacy and campaigning, and narrow it down to concrete practical instruments, with a special focus on digital tools.
Keynote speech / Cathedral Thinking for Liberals: Rediscovering Common Ground and Values
Session 1 / ‘LIBERALS LECTURE, CONSERVATIVES COMMUNICATE’: CAN WE CHANGE THE PATTERN
Session 2 / POLITICAL CAMPAIGN COMMUNICATIONS: A MARATHON, NOT A RACE
Session 3 / WINNING AN ONLINE RACE FOR ATTENTION