Authoritarianisms in Democracy
As part of the cultural initiatives promoted by the Casa della Cultura in Milan, the new series "Autoritarismi in democrazia" [Authoritarianisms in Democracy] is launching — a cycle of events aimed at exploring the political, social, and symbolic transformations that, in many parts of the world, are putting democratic institutions under pressure today.
The project is designed to offer a space for in-depth discussion open to the public, where internationally renowned scholars can engage with attendees on key issues for understanding our present: the rise of radical right-wing movements, the crisis of representative models, the reemergence of charismatic and authoritarian leaderships, and the challenges posed by war, migration, and new forms of political participation.
Event Calendar (November 2025 – June 2026):
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Saturday, 22 November 2025, 6:00 p.m.: Trumpism. A Political Myth.
Speaker: Chiara Bottici – Professor of Philosophy, New School for Social Research, New York -
Saturday, 20 December 2025, 6:00 p.m.: The Far Right 2.0. What It Is and How to Fight It.
Speaker: Steven Forti – Professor of Contemporary History, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona -
Monday, 19 January 2026, 6:00 p.m.: Occupying Hope: The Right to the City.
Speaker: Marina Garcés – Professor of Philosophy, Open University of Catalonia -
Friday, 20 February 2026, 6:00 p.m.: Will Democracy Survive the Challenge of the Far Right?
Speaker: Daniel Innerarity – Professor of Political and Social Philosophy, European University Institute, Florence -
Tuesday, 24 March 2026, 6:00 p.m.: The Madwomen. A Conversation with the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo.
Speaker: Daniela Padoan – Writer, President of the association Libertà e Giustizia -
Friday, 24 April 2026, 6:00 p.m.: The Nation-State and Its Ills.
Speaker: Michael Herzfeld – Emeritus Professor of Social Sciences, Harvard University -
Friday, 22 May 2026, 6:00 p.m.: The Leader in Democracy.
Speaker: Jean-Claude Monod – Professor of Political Philosophy, École Normale Supérieure, Paris -
Friday, 19 June 2026, 6:00 p.m. (date to be confirmed): Strongmen: How They Rise, Why They Succeed, How They Fall.
Speaker: Ruth Ben-Ghiat – Professor of History and Italian Studies, New York University -
Between April and May 2026 (date to be set): War Regimes.
Speaker: Judith Butler – Professor of Comparative Literature, University of California, Berkeley
The events will take place at the Casa della Cultura (via Borgogna 3, Milan) and can also be followed live via streaming on the association’s website and social media channels. For further information, please refer to the attached flyer.