Can We Still Be Saved? On Conflicts and How to Address Them More Objectively
About
Not only in the United States is the liberal order under enormous pressure. In Germany and Europe as well, we observe sharper political confrontations, an increasingly unrestrained culture of public discourse, and a growing tendency to call democratic norms, institutions, and processes—along with scientifically established knowledge—into question.
What kind of political normality must we, as liberal societies, prepare ourselves for? How should universities and media organizations, as central pillars of Western societies, orient themselves in order to make social conflicts more fact-based and objective? And finally: Which developments might give us reason for hope?
A talk with Sandra Kegel (Head of the Arts and Culture Desk at the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung and Thomas Mann Fellow 2025) and Patrick Cramer (Academy member, President of the Max Planck Society), moderated by Shelly Kupferberg (rbb Kultur, Deutschlandfunk Kultur).
An event organized by Villa Aurora & Thomas Mann House e. V. and the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities (BBAW).
With ...
Sandra Kegel, born in 1970 in Frankfurt am Main, she has been an editor at the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung since 1999. She worked for many years in the Media and Literature sections, and since 2019 she has headed the FAZ’s arts and culture desk (Feuilleton). In addition, she serves as a juror and moderator and is a regular critic on the literary program Buchzeit (3sat). In 2005, her work was recognized with the Ravensburger Media Award.
Patrick Cramer, born in 1969 in Stuttgart, is a German chemist, structural biologist, and molecular biologist. He is a member of the Leopoldina and the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO), and since 2020 also of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences (NAS). Since June 2023, he has served as President of the Max Planck Society.
Shelly Kupferberg, born in 1974 in Tel Aviv, grew up in West Berlin. She studied journalism, theatre studies, and musicology in Berlin. In addition to numerous contributions for ARD, she has been hosting cultural, literary, and social-affairs programmes for almost 30 years (DLF Kultur and rbbKultur). In autumn 2022, her literary debut Isidor was published by Diogenes and appeared on the SPIEGEL bestseller list.
Partner
An event in cooperation with the Berlin-Brandenburgischen Akademie der Wissenschaften as part of the Salon Sophie Charlotte 2026.
The Salon Sophie Charlotte 2026 is dedicated to the theme “Conflicts – resolve?” Conflicts touch every area of our lives, from family dynamics to global politics. In times of multiple crises, the question of how conflicts can be resolved becomes especially urgent. While the diagnosis is often clear, there is frequently a lack of space to reflect on possible solutions. What potential strategies for resolution can be found in history, science, culture, politics, and society?