Conference: Participation as a Popular Promise on Feb. 19 & 20, 2026
Since at least the 1960s, when performativity theories from science and art made social order appear practically changeable, the idea of participation has inspired political thought and social practice in Western societies. Participation has become a popular promise in democracy, and participatory elements—from the direct election of mayors to citizens’ councils at the national level—are often seen as a remedy for declining engagement and notorious dissatisfaction among citizens. In various institutions, from medicine to schools to churches, the participation of competent “laypeople” is expected to improve institutional performance. Digital and networked media are associated with hopes for active participation by citizens in public discourse and decision-making processes. On the other hand, it has proven difficult to live up to the responsibility associated with the promise of participation to enable evolutionary change in the face of unequal opportunities to participate effectively. Additionally, societies face increasing complaints that participation can also lead to the popularity of political practices and agendas that are perceived by institutional actors as challenging, undesirable, or even threatening. The conference addresses participation as a popular but ambivalent promise that has a (historical) background in popularized science (e.g., performativity theories, democracy theories, science and technology studies, disability studies, etc.). While the first day will focus on historical perspectives on discourse, including international comparison, the second day will feature case studies on current institutional practices, related to inclusion and stem cell donation, among other topics. The conference will engage a wider audience through a panel discussion on the first day and a workshop with teacher training students on the second day.
The conference presentations can be given in German or English; the discussions will be bilingual. The panel discussion and the workshop / gallery walk will be held exclusively in German.
Link to the conference of the SFB 1472.
Link to project C02 "Digital Body Knowledge. Fault Lines of Problematic Popularity in Health Care".