Duration
21 Sep 2026 - 25 Sep 2026
In this seminar, we will critically examine Oswald Spengler and Emmanuel Todd—two major thinkers who, one century apart, diagnosed crises in Western civilization. While Spengler wrote in the aftermath of the First World War, Todd analyzes demographic and cultural transformations amid today’s geopolitical tensions, including the fractured relationships among the United States, the European Union, and Russia.
These narratives of “decline” are increasingly echoed and weaponized by contemporary radical populist movements. Our aim is not to embrace these narratives, but to interrogate them rigorously—demonstrating that, despite present challenges, the fundamental values of the Western democratic tradition remain vital to the future of Europe.
We will approach this question on three levels: Geopolitical: Examining emerging global power dynamics. Demographic: Analyzing new patterns of citizenship and EU demographic policy. Institutional: Assessing how democratic institutions adapt under globalization pressures.
