6th Seminar // April-May 2025
This seminar, organized by the ILE in collaboration with the Residencia de Estudiantes, is part of a series of events held regularly since 2021 as part of its work on “Democracy and Tolerance”. Previous seminars have analyzed some of the challenges currently facing our democracies, such as the rise of populism and illiberal political trends, which are testing our resilience as free societies. This year, we will reflect on the current state of democracy, both from a theoretical perspective and through the study of comparative case studies and available means of defense. We will address the dynamics that lead from democracy to authoritarianism: a complex and blurred boundary with variations in each country, making it difficult to assess when a democratic system has transformed into “competitive authoritarianism”.
Estimated duration of each session: 90 minutes.
Seminar sessions will be conducted in Spanish and English, with simultaneous translation into the other language.
Seminar coordinated by Fernando Vallespín
April 13th // 19:00 h. (CET)
Professor of Political Science at Universidad Autónoma de Madrid
Democracy and authoritarianism:
Their hybrid forms
April 20th // 19:00 h. (CET)
Professor at University College Dublin and member of the Royal Academy of Ireland
The crisis of American democracy:
Are we witnessing the end of American liberalism?
April 27th // 19:00 h. (CET)
Politologist and Lecturer at Universidad Autónoma de Madrid
&
Journalist and Writer
Technology and political power
May 4th // 19:00 h. (CET)
Professor of Political Science and International Relations at Universidad San Pablo CEU
&
Centre for Euro-Atlantic Integration and Democracy
The retreat of democracy in Eastern Europe
May 11th // 19:00 h. (CET)
Lecturer at Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona
Authoritarianism then and now
New forms of authoritarianism and the crisis of democracy
April-May, 2025
This seminar, organized by the ILE in collaboration with the Residencia de Estudiantes, is part of a series of events held regularly since 2021 as part of its work on “Democracy and Tolerance”. Previous seminars have analyzed some of the challenges currently facing our democracies, such as the rise of populism and illiberal political trends, which are testing our resilience as free societies. This year, we will reflect on the current state of democracy, both from a theoretical perspective and through the study of comparative case studies and available means of defense. We will address the dynamics that lead from democracy to authoritarianism: a complex and blurred boundary with variations in each country, making it difficult to assess when a democratic system has transformed into “competitive authoritarianism”.
April 13th // 19:00 h. (CET)
Fernando Vallespín
Universidad Autónoma de Madrid
Democracy and authoritarianism: their hybrid forms
April 20th // 19:00 h. (CET)
Andreas Hess
University College Dublin & Royal Irish Academy
The crisis of American democracy: are we witnessing the end of American liberalism?
April 27th // 19:00 h. (CET)
Máriam Martínez-Bascuñán
Universidad Autónoma de Madrid
Marta Peirano
Journalist and Writer
Technology and political power
May 4th // 19:00 h. (CET)
Anna Sroka
Universidad San Pablo CEU
Edit Inotai
Centre for Euro-Atlantic Integration and Democracy
The retreat of democracy in Eastern Europe
May 11th // 19:00 h. (CET)
Steven Forti
Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona
Authoritarianism then and now
Organized by
Partner Institutions
With the participation of
