82nd ICREA Colloquium - Democracy and self-determination: perspectives from historical sociology and political philosophy

Speakers: ICREA Research Professor Peter Wagner (UB) and Prof. Daniel Gamper (UAB)

When: 22nd of May 2018, 18:00h

Where: ICREA, Pg. Lluís Companys 23, 6th floor

Abstract: 

Human rights and democracy are today often considered as universal normative principles. Even though not uncontroversial either, such assertion may be relatively unproblematic for individual human rights. The notion of democracy, however, clearly begs further questions: How is it that "the people" can govern and exert authority? What is the collective "self" that determines its laws and rules for living together? These are time-honoured questions of political thought. Despite being fundamental, they have never found a definitive answer. Rather, the answers vary with the historical context in which they are provided. The speakers will try to show, in different ways, that conceptual reflections from political philosophy need to be joined with historico-sociological observations on changing ideas of "people" and the capacity to self-govern, with a view to arriving at more adequate views on current topical issues.

The ICREA colloquia are a great way to learn about remote fields of research from our best experts. We usually have two speakers, who offer their opinions on the same subject from very different angles. Open to all ICREAs and their guests.