Philipp Lepenies in Braunschweig: Lecture on the Salvability of Democracy
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When Democracy Becomes a Question of the Present
Philipp Lepenies invites you to an evening in Braunschweig that combines political analysis and literary clarity. In the Franziskus Hall of the Evangelical Academy Abt Jerusalem, he places the vulnerable order of democracy at the center and seeks historical answers to today's crises. The event takes place on Thursday, September 10, 2026, from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM and is free of charge. ([thzbs.de](https://www.thzbs.de/ev-akademie?cHash=d6c97c037780d764615eb59b09624b29&kathaupt=11&katid=2&knr=AJ260910&kursname=Ist+die+Demokratie+noch+zu+retten))
An Evening Between Political Diagnosis and Intellectual Reflection
The atmosphere of the reading promises not an academic ritual but an author encounter with political relevance. Lepenies is a professor of politics with a focus on sustainability at the Free University of Berlin and leads the Research Center for Sustainability there; his research revolves around sustainable development, poverty, inequality, social cohesion, and welfare measurement. For the evening in Braunschweig, this expertise aligns precisely with the topic of democracy, which he continuously reflects in his current writings and courses. ([fu-berlin.de](https://www.fu-berlin.de/informationen-fuer/beschaeftigte/personalia/neuberufen/neuberufene-aktuell/lepenies/index.html))
Why This Lecture Resonates with the Times
The academy's course description identifies democratic order as under siege - from both inside and outside. This tension breathes life into the evening: not from alarmism, but from historical depth. Lepenies reminds us that early democracies grappled with the same fundamental questions that are pressing today - how democracy is supported, learned, and preserved. This perspective connects political education with literary precision in thinking. ([thzbs.de](https://www.thzbs.de/ev-akademie?cHash=d6c97c037780d764615eb59b09624b29&kathaupt=11&katid=2&knr=AJ260910&kursname=Ist+die+Demokratie+noch+zu+retten))
A Place of Intellectual and Cultural Density
The Evangelical Academy Abt Jerusalem in the Theological Center Braunschweig is located at Alter Zeughof near the old town. The house describes its location as central and easily accessible by public transport from the train station; it also notes that there are no parking options for guests due to its city center location. The cloister, monastery garden, and the medieval Franciscan church shape the unique atmosphere of the conference. ([thzbs.de](https://www.thzbs.de/wir-sind/das-haus/raumangebot-und-preise?cHash=879493b44b9a3e019149fb593a9edaf8&kathaupt=1&katid=9&katname=Ev+Akademie+Abt+Jerusalem&katvaterid=0&orderby=kurzbez&orderbyasc=0))
Philipp Lepenies in Literary-Political Discourse
As an author, Lepenies represents understandable, argumentatively strong non-fiction. His well-known books include The Power of One Number, Prohibition and Renunciation, and Sovereign Decisions. On the Becoming and Passing of Democracy. Thus, he operates at the intersection of political theory, contemporary diagnosis, and cultural scientific reflection. His view of democracy therefore gains not only scholarly but also cultural journalistic relevance in Braunschweig. ([de.wikipedia.org](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philipp_Lepenies?utm_source=openai))
Conclusion: a Lecture for Those Who Do Not View Democracy as a Given
Those who want to experience political debates with historical awareness and intellectual attitude will find a substantial evening here. The event offers an open space for reflection, positioning, and conversation - right in the heart of Braunschweig, free of charge and relevant to the present. Experience it live now and engage in the democratic discourse on-site. ([thzbs.de](https://www.thzbs.de/ev-akademie?cHash=d6c97c037780d764615eb59b09624b29&kathaupt=11&katid=2&knr=AJ260910&kursname=Ist+die+Demokratie+noch+zu+retten))
Official Channels of Philipp Lepenies:
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- Website: https://www.fu-berlin.de/informationen-fuer/beschaeftigte/personalia/neuberufen/neuberufene-aktuell/lepenies/index.html
- Publisher: https://www.suhrkamp.de/person/philipp-lepenies-p-8293
