10 December 2024
Bilbao Campus
Within the framework of a research project on the quality of democracy in the Basque Country, led by the communication team of the Faculty of Social and Human Sciences, the University of Deusto and the University of Gothenburg, in collaboration with the Basque Government and the Provincial Council of Bizkaia, have held the conference “Conversations on Democracy”. The lehendakari of the Basque Government, Imanol Pradales, participated in this meeting in which the main challenges facing democracy in Europe and more specifically in the Basque Country were discussed in depth.
The inauguration was attended by Juan Ignacio Pérez Iglesias, Minister of Science, Universities and Innovation of the Basque Government; Ager Izagirre, Deputy of the Department of Public Administration and Institutional Relations; Elixabete Pérez Gaztelu, Director of the Institute of Basque Studies of the University of Deusto; and Juan José Etxeberria, Rector of the University of Deusto.
During his speech, Rector Etxeberria referred to the project “Democratic quality and political culture in post-Covid Basque society” developed by 9 researchers from Deusto and 3 from the Quality of Government Institute (QoG) of Götegorg, which analyzes citizens' attitudes towards democracy, institutional trust, democratic satisfaction and political culture. As he explained, this work is part of Deusto's commitment to “plural and inclusive democracies”, a priority line of research that addresses the current challenges of democracy from various disciplines. A commitment to which is added the launch in September of the new Master's Degree in Democracy, Public Institutions and Social Innovation, which will combine training, research and active experimentation.
In his opinion, democracies are facing challenges such as globalization, technological change and polarization, which weaken the welfare state and generate citizen disaffection. For this reason, he believes that it is necessary to redefine a new social contract that integrates public structures, citizenship and organized society, and to strengthen the European Union in the face of the antagonism between democratic and authoritarian models. According to the rector, it is necessary to strengthen democracy because in times of uncertainty and change, democracy is presented not only as a system of government, but as a fundamental value that promotes freedom, equality and justice.
“We live in an era where misinformation and polarization threaten our societies,” he noted and, for this reason, he believes that ”it is crucial that we defend and revitalize our democratic institutions, ensuring that every voice is heard and every vote counts.” Furthermore, he assures, “democracy is not a destination, but a continuous journey, which implies the responsibility to educate ourselves and future generations about the importance of human rights, tolerance and mutual respect”.
Democracy in the Basque Country
Next, Elías Dinas, Research Director of the Department of Political and Social Sciences at the European University Institute (EUI), spoke on “Europe facing the challenge of strengthening democracy”.
This was followed by the “Conversation on the democratic challenge in the Basque Country”, moderated by the sociologist and political scientist Cristina Monge of the University of Zaragoza, in which the Lehendakari, together with the professor of the University of Gothenburg and researcher at the Institute for Quality of Government, Victor Lapuente, discussed the main challenges facing democracy in Europe and more specifically in the Basque Country, where Imanol Pradales set the strengthening of democracy as a challenge of the legislature. Thus, he called to be aware of “the existence and growth of anti-democratic movements with xenophobic and populist speeches with a relevant electoral and political weight that are putting at risk the values of European construction, such as peace, tolerance or equality”.
The lehendakari also reflected on the crisis of confidence affecting public institutions caused by the socioeconomic changes of recent decades, such as the erosion of the middle class, the impact of digitalization on socialization and consumer trends and growing individualism, “but also because of the malpractice of public authorities and the management of public affairs, corruption, clientelism and polarization and political tension,” he explained.
For him, “Euskadi is not an island, although it still maintains important elements to counteract this trend that have to do with our sense of community and that society continues to understand that we all have both rights and duties to the community. And this is what has allowed us to build on the collaboration between the public, private, social initiative and civil society,” he said. .
Imanol Pradales expressed his confidence that “in the Basque Country we have elements to preserve that have to do with our own historical and political tradition and in which the Basque Government will put all its focus, such as exemplarity in political practice, a climate that continues to prioritize debate, negotiation and agreement, as well as restoring confidence in efficiency and good management”, he concluded.
After this intervention, the topic “Women's political participation and the regeneration of politics” was analyzed by María Pilar Rodríguez, Senior Lecturer and Principal PI of the Communication research group at the University of Deusto, and Susan Banducci, Professor of Political Science in the Department of Political Science and International Studies at the University of Birmingham.
Finally, Agnes Cornell, Georgios Xenozakis, Victor Lapuente, and Xabier Barandiarán, professor at the University of Gothenburg and researchers at the Quality of Government Institute (QoG), and Xabier Barandiarán, professor at the Faculty of Social and Human Sciences of Deusto, reflected on “Democratic quality and political culture in the post-Covid Basque society”. Adolfo Morais, Deputy Minister of Science, Universities and Research of the Basque Government, was in charge of closing the event.
The value of public communication
Within the same project on the quality of democracy, the San Sebastian campus will host on December 11 the “International Conference: The value of public communication for democratic regeneration” organized by the Communication research team of the Faculty of Social and Human Sciences and the Institute of Basque Studies of the University of Deusto, which this year celebrates 50 years dedicated to the study and dissemination of the Basque language and culture.
Democratic regeneration requires public communication that is not only a channel for transmitting messages, but also a space for interaction that strengthens the social and political fabric. If elements such as transparency, participation and inclusion are prioritized, public communication not only reinforces the legitimacy of the democratic system, but also enriches and adapts it to contemporary challenges. These are the themes of this conference, from a local and international perspective.
Speakers include Iñaki García Arrizabalaga, Juanjo Gibaja and Alazne Mujika with the topic “Citizen activism in Euskadi. An alternative to conventional political participation”; Miren Gutiérrez and María Pilar Rodríguez with ‘Gender disinformation against women politicians, activists and journalists: a challenge for democratic participation’; Leyre Arrieta, Eider Landaberea, Xabier Barandiaran with ”Democratic quality in Euskadi: Vision of Political Parties and Citizenship“; Larraitz Ariznabarreta, Josu Bijueska and Esti Amorrortu with ‘Definitions of ’Democracy” in the Basque Media: Unveiling Discourses in Berria through a Minoritized Language Lens”; and Garazi Azanza and Begoña Sanz with ”Women's Leadership in Politics and Public Opinion. Towards a feminist leadership for political regeneration”.
