A wake-up call to not only defend democracy, but to actively shape it

"Desperate because I see how a large proportion of people do not learn from history. Desperate because the democracy that has made my life possible is crumbling."
Democracy is never static, but dynamic. It lives through the people who are constantly working on it. Who would know this better than Michel Friedman. He calls for action to finally be taken - for freedom and human rights. With clear analyses, he exposes the dangers of resignation, media-driven sensationalism and unfulfilled promises. This book challenges, irritates and inspires at the same time. It is a passionate declaration of love for democracy. An urgent appeal to fight for dignity, rights, diversity and freedom before it is too late. If you don't intervene now, you become an accomplice.
At a time when democracy and human rights are under daily attack from extremists and autocrats and democracies are already being taken over in part by "illiberal democrats" and are being run in an increasingly authoritarian and totalitarian manner, Michel Friedman calls on us not only to discuss courageously, but to act.

Michel Friedman, born in Paris in 1956, is a lawyer, philosopher, publicist and presenter. From 2000 to 2003 he was deputy chairman of the Central Council of Jews in Germany and editor of the weekly newspaper Jüdische Allgemeine, and from 2001 to 2003 president of the European Jewish Congress. He is committed to combating right-wing radicalism and promoting the integration of refugees.
He has been an honorary professor since 2016 and headed the Center for Applied European Studies at Frankfurt University, which he co-founded, until 2022. Among other things, he presents the program "Auf ein Wort" on Deutsche Welle as well as the event series "Friedman im Gespräch" at the Berliner Ensemble and "Denken ohne Geländer" at the Jewish Museum Frankfurt am Main. He is the recipient of the Goethe Plaque of the City of Frankfurt and editor of the Jewish-liberal magazine Aufbau.

Moderation: Sebastian Krumbiegel