The Institute for Philosophy and Social Theory invites you to a public session, “Institutions in Motion,” dedicated to one of the central questions of contemporary political theory and democratic practice: how can democratic institutions be built, renewed, and sustained in an era of profound political and social transformation?

Drawing on experiences of protest movements, civic resistance, and struggles for social justice from around the world, the discussion will explore how demands emerging from society can be transformed into durable, legitimate, and effective democratic institutions.

The session will also address a fundamental question for contemporary democracies: how can institutions remain open to contestation and democratic participation while preserving their capacity to govern effectively and serve the public interest?

The discussion will feature:

Prathama Banerjee (Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, Delhi)

Craig Calhoun (Arizona State University)

Stephen W. Sawyer (The American University of Paris)

The session will be moderated by Gazela Pudar Draško (Institute for Philosophy and Social Theory, University of Belgrade) and Dilip Gaonkar (Northwestern University).

The session is open to the public. Everyone is welcome.