Joachim Gauck: Über Demokratie und Freiheit

Why go

Joachim Gauck, the East German dissident who became Germany's Federal President from 2012 to 2017, takes the stage at Bergson to talk through the strains on liberal democracy and why public trust in it has faltered. Expect a wide-ranging evening on populism from both the right and the left, Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and a hard look at the old German policy of putting trade and peace ahead of freedom. It suits anyone who follows politics and history and wants an informed, first-hand perspective. Doors open at 18:30 and the talk runs about ninety minutes.