ALENA KOŠÁK FELCMANOVÁ

In recent years, the Czech Republic has seen an increase in civil society protests and initiatives, which have also attracted attention in the foreign press. What is perceived on the one hand as a revitalization of civil society is interpreted on the other hand as a campaign by people who refuse to accept the results of free elections.We will examine how this battle for interpretive authority is being waged, what the collaboration between the state and civil society organizations looks like, and what competing interpretations of the situation exist in the media discourse.

About "What can civil society do": ... a lot! Regardless of whether they are fighting poverty, injustice, environmental protection or human rights: Civil society initiatives have become increasingly important worldwide in recent years. Their goals are as diverse as the conditions under which they operate. What they all have in common is that they see themselves as co-creators of social change and often form a constructively critical counterpart to the state and business. Depending on the context, their work is supported, hindered or even criminalized. This series of events presents examples from Syria, Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic. We will ask the actors about the preconditions for their work, their successes and setbacks and how they got to where they are today. We want to discuss this with you and them.