Democracy is a hot topic of discussion – in the news, in public debate and around the kitchen table. But what does the research say? How do we actually measure the strength of democracy and the extent of polarisation? How can we know whether it is decreasing or increasing? How clear-cut are the trends, and how does democracy in Finland compare with other parts of the world? To what extent do we see polarisation within Finland?
Welcome to an open seminar where three researchers – Professors Kimmo Grönlund and Kim Strandberg from Åbo Akademi University and Åsa von Schoultz from the University of Helsinki – will share the latest research on the development of democracy and social polarisation. Together, they will talk about current trends and discuss the state of democracy.
The seminar is part of the Finland-Swedish Research School’s two-day visit to Åland. It is hosted by the Åland Peace Institute in collaboration with the Åland University of Applied Sciences and the Government of Åland. The visit has received support from the Swedish Literature Society in Finland.
The Finland-Swedish Research School is a network for doctoral students in political science at Swedish-language educational institutions in Finland. The research school’s seminars give doctoral students the opportunity to present their research projects in Swedish and receive qualified feedback from professors and senior researchers. The open part of the programme offers Ålanders a unique opportunity to learn about current social research and meet researchers from different parts of Swedish-speaking Finland. It will be an opportunity for dialogue between academia, public actors and the general public – with a focus on knowledge exchange and shared learning.
Admission is free and everyone is welcome.
When: 22 September at 5.30 p.m.
Where: Högskolan på Åland Södra, Auditorium