Iratzar Foundation in collaboration with CIEMEN and Coppieters Foundation, has been organised an event in Brussels on 4 November to discuss how the self-determination movements respond to the new wave of reactionary forces and the rise of the extreme right in Europe.

Two important phenomena are becoming more and more apparent in Europe. The citizens and the States are transferring sovereignty to supranational institutions. The democratic mechanisms that strengthen individuals, communities and self-government are gradually being privatized.

As a result, the Soveraignty differs from the dems (the people), private corporations, and supranational institutions. In this context, we see that new discourses associated with post-neoliberal ideologies promote the idea that democracy can function without sovereignty, while at the same time being unrealistic and dangerous to our societies.

Illiterate capitalism, MAGA-populism and postneoliberalism are also breaking community ties and creating a new framework that confronts emancipating movements of authoritarian ideology, social advances and sovereign movements.

This event will analyse these dynamics from a comparative perspective, focusing on the experiences of different cases with strong sovereign movements: we aim to explore the relationship between democracy, sovereignty and the challenges facing Europe today: from climate crises, housing and social crisis, the post-truth media, the threat of continental war, to the weakening of rules based on the international system.

Discussions shall be structured into two tables combining theoretical considerations with practical views of academics, activists and political leaders.

How the movements of self-determination respond to the new wave of reactionary forces and how they resist the rise of the extreme right in Europe.

Program:

17:30 – 18:00 Registration and Welcome Reception

18:00 – 18:15 Presentation and overview of the event.

• Marta Bainka, Coppieters Foundation

18:15 – 19:00 Round table 1: Sovereignty in Europe – Political and Legal Areas

Interlocutors:

• Albert Noguera, Professor of Constitutional Law, University of Valencia

• Jule Goikoetxea, philosopher and professor of Political Theory and Philosophy at the University of the Basque Country.

Moderator: Andoni Olariaga, philosopher and member of the Iratzar Foundation.

19:00 – 19:30 Round table 2: Sovereignty, extreme attitudes and social dynamics

Interlocutors:

• Arkaitz Fullaondo, sociologist and professor of Labour Relations and Social Work at the University of the Basque Country.

• Andree Murphy, CEO of Ireland's Future.

• Lesley Riddoch, writer and director of Nordic Horizons.

19:30 – 20:00 Public questions and answers

20:00 – 20:15 | Closing speech

To participate in the event you must register via the following link: https://forms.gle/L3nR9FXJAtTi1YpD8