Streit ums Politische 2025/26
»What if we were wrong?«

Heinz Bude and Guests

»What if we were wrong?« This question, usually attributed to Barack Obama, is directed at a leftwing, liberal and progressive milieu, which puts the blame for the undeniable shift to the right of our societies on a majority made up of others, and in so doing forgets that the strength of the right always implies a weakness of the left. What if we were to discover that the groups fighting for an emancipatory project and an environmental agenda are not just on the defensive, but in fact are now nothing more than a minority without power nor influence? The shift in who gets to control the narrative is palpable. Are we wit- nessing the victory of the great regression? Or should a leftwing that has viewed itself as the voice of the oppressed and defamed not admit that it has been built on a grand delusion?

Together with his guests, on four dates at the start of this new season, a thoughtful and incisive Heinz Bude will investigate how leftwing thought can be something more than a grand gesture which exhausts itself in imaginary alternatives. Guests will include the political scientist Ingolfur Blühdorn and the sociologists Elena Beregow, Sarah Speck and Sighard Neckel.

Streit ums Politische has been a regular discussion series at the Schaubühne since the 2011/12 Season. Heinz Bude is Emeritus Professor for Macrosociology at Universität Kassel. He explores transformations in social inequality and their significance for the self- actuality of contemporary societies. In recent years, he has published »Gesellschaft der Angst«, »Das Gefühl der Welt. Über die Macht von Stimmungen«, »Solidarität. Die Zukunft einer großen Idee« and »Abschied von den Boomern«. This September, the trio BudeMunkWieland, who released »Aufprall« in 2020, will publish their novel »Transit 64«.

Supported by Hertie-Stiftung