Democracy: How to defend and grow it, and how to recognise its limitations

Symposium in memoriam Claus Offe, part 1/5 27 March 2026, Henrik Enderlein Forum, Hertie School Panel 1: Democracy: How to defend and grow it, and how to recognise its limitations Moderator: Helmut Anheier Keynote speech: Michael Zürn Panellists: Micheline Ishay, Wolfgang Merkel, and Tine Stein Claus Offe dedicated his intellectual life to uncovering the conditions for social progress in the modern world, probing notions of social justice and how to defend individual freedoms. While keenly aware of the tensions liberal and open-market societies harbour, the profound challenges democracies face, and the complex contradictions of political transitions, neither optimism nor hope left him in any doubt that the social sciences can improve the world. In his unpublished “A Short Account of my Professional Life, Including Facets of lts Context”, which he shared only with close friends, he wrote: “I have also been convinced that social science research is virtually worthless unless its findings provoke, throw light on, or can serve as arguments in normative discourses on the nature of a ‘well-ordered society’ and its defining features of the reasonable use of freedom and distributive justice. A key goal must be to propose, in the mode of thoughtful wishing rather than that of wishful thinking, ways to achieve that end.” This symposium will honour Claus Offe’s intellectual achievements by taking his compelling argument as a point of departure, highlighting his insights and contributions to a better future for our societies, and embracing the spirit of “thoughtful wishing” that he championed. The symposium includes a public session with representatives from politics and academia, as well as a series of panels to debate the intellectual legacy of Claus Offe. Speakers and panellists will focus on key elements of Claus Offe’s work and apply them to current political challenges and debates. Brief opening statements or keynote speeches will set the stage, bridging academic discussions and current political debates. They will address one key question: “How can Claus Offe’s contributions and insights help shape the future?” Throughout the conference, we will revisit excerpts from Claus Offe’s writing and reflections, applying his perspective to current challenges. ━━━━━━━━ Understand today. Shape tomorrow. ▶ Website: https://www.hertie-school.org ▶ Facebook:   / hertieschool   ▶ Instagram:   / thehertieschool   ▶ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hertieschool... ▶ LinkedIn:   / hertie-school   The Hertie School is a private university based in Berlin, Germany, accredited by the state and the German Science Council. It prepares exceptional students for leadership positions in government, business, and civil society. Interdisciplinary and practice-oriented teaching, first-class research and an extensive international network set the Hertie School apart and position it as an ambassador of good governance, characterised by public debate and engagement.