The image that Europe is currently presenting could hardly be more contradictory: isolationism, populism, scepticism about EU institutions are all mixed in with a newly blossoming euphoria about the European idea. Does Europe need a reset? At the moment it mainly needs a direction. In the face of democratic crises, climate change, structural change and the hate that exists in society, the people of Europe need new ways of solving pressing problems. Can culture help to win back the trust of Europe’s citizens and create a European public sphere? Can it generate more unity and defend Europe’s existential values of human rights, multilateralism, freedom of the press and opinion? The contributors to this Culture Report look for answers to these questions.
FOREWORD
Preventing nationalism and promoting a European public sphere. By Sebastian Körber
CHAPTER 1: DEMOCRACY ON THE BACK FOOT – IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM
The fight for liberal democracy. By Francis Fukuyama
Europe’s identities. By Alfred Grosser
Our global mess. By Ladislau Dowbor
Polarisation, identity, and how it all went wrong. By Bernd Reiter
Maximising mistrust. By Branko Milanović
The many ideas of Europe. By Pankaj Mishra
From figure of fun to terrifying autocrat. By Ece Temelkuran
Centre and periphery. By Adam Balcer
Homesick for the future. By Herta Müller
CHAPTER 2: RESET EUROPE – CRISIS AS OPPORTUNITY
A call to action. By Emmanuel Macron
Lifesaving medicine for the world. By Federica Mogherini
What unites Europe? By Heinrich August Winkler
How can Europe gain new strength? By Heribert Prantl
More politics? By Ulrike Guérot
Time to make Europe understandable. By Martin Schulz
Revolution is in the air. By Bogdan Góralczyk
Freedom for creative artists. By Jagoda Marinić
CHAPTER 3: SOCIAL FRAGMENTATION – THE FIGHT TO CONTROL THE NARRATIVE
A short story about control. By Anatol Itten
An exclusive claim to truth. By Aleida and Jan Assmann
The loss of the public sphere. By Eva Menasse
Writing in times of disaster. By Åsne Seierstad
In defence of the do-gooders. By Ilija Trojanow
The digital illusion. By Jaron Lanier
The future rulers? By Thorsten Jelinek
Platform Europe. By Johannes Hillje
Giving voices to the voiceless. By Margaret Atwood
The power of conspiracy. By Michael Butter
Press freedom under pressure. By Frank Vogl
