GSFF 2018 We Need to Disagree 2: Of Islands and Scapegoats

We disagree constantly: about how to shape our society, about the relation between freedom and security, about degrees of individuality and solidarity. Polarisation instead of debate, taking sides instead of engagement. Fifty years after the struggles for personal liberties and free expression of 1968 we have handed over our societal standards and values to populists and social media filter bubbles. But we need to disagree, to argue: to listen, pause, reconsider, and then speak – and at the same time resist the assault on progressive achievements. This triangle programme from the UK, Austria and Spain takes a look at three European countries in turmoil.

As a reaction to financial globalisation and social cut-backs, political hopes are increasingly placed in nationalism. But how can you pretend to be an isolated island when you’re part of a large system? A lesson in successful scapegoatism using the example of a small country in the heart of Europe.

Programme 2: Of Islands and Scapegoats is curated by Vienna Shorts.