‘Democracy in Flux’ event brings together scholars to discuss political communication
Scholars convened on Jan. 19 for “Democracy in Flux: Political Communication across Borders and Boundaries” on Zoom. The event — co-hosted by Indiana University’s Europe Gateway, The Media School at Indiana University, and Freie Universität Berlin’s Institute for Media and Communication Studies — included research presentations from faculty and graduate students that illuminate the diverse ways in which communication and media interface with political attitudes, behaviors, systems, and cultures.
Event sessions were geared toward the workshopping of ideas for future initiatives and collaborations between Freie Universität Berlin and Indiana University, serving to advance a more global understanding of political communication.
“At a time when both the U.S. and Germany struggle with increasing political polarization and attacks on democratic structures, this symposium enabled crucial probing of issues in political communication in a cross-national perspective,” IU Europe Gateway Director Katrin Völkner said.
Völkner said the organizers were pleased with the turnout from both IU and Freie Universität Berlin. Altogether, Völkner said they were in conversation for about five hours discussing each other’s research and ideas.
Throughout the symposium, faculty and graduate students presented their work on a variety of topics, including online activism, the meaning and symbolism of MAGA hats, how conspiracy theories cut across societal structures, and the distinction between conspiracy theory versus entertainment media.
“I thought the quality of the engagement throughout all the sessions was excellent,” Völkner said.
Jason Peifer, an associate professor of journalism at IU, said the event succeeded in what it was aiming to achieve.
“Our primary goals for this symposium were to build relationships with our colleagues at Freie and to facilitate an exchange that would help expand our understanding— as scholars — of political communication beyond our own national boundaries,” Peifer said.
What exactly that future collaboration might look like is something the organizers are in ongoing conversations about, Peifer said, but given that IU designates Freie as one of its primary partners, he anticipates they’ll have some exciting opportunities ahead.
“We’re really looking forward to using this symposium as a foundation for future collaboration with Freie and their media research institutes,” Peifer said.
Special thanks to the organizing committee: Radhika Parameswaran, Margreth Lünenborg, Alexander Görke, Megan Connor, Katrin Voelkner, Annabell Türk, Mike Gruszczynski, and Jason Peifer.