The truth of politics and the politics of truth

● Date: Thursday, 12th May 2022, 18.00 – 20.00
● Venue: Scala University Cinema, Moravské nám. 127, Brno

Truth is often among politicians’ declared values, though it rarely appears in policy programmes and other documents of political practice. It frequently falls victim to electoral tactics, the courting of popularity and both domestic and international diplomatic considerations. But how great can the tension between politics and reality become before citizens lose trust in their representatives or, even worse, democracy itself? This problem is all the more complicated in the European Union, occurring not just at national but at union level, where domestic politicians, with an eye to ratings, like to shunt it.

17.30 – 18.00 Registration
18.00 – 18.05 Opening: Stanislav Balík, Dean of the Faculty of Social Studies, Masaryk University
18.05 – 18.10 Greeting: Mikuláš Bek, Czech Minister for European Affairs
18.10 – 18.20 Opening address: Michael Žantovský, Director of the Václav Havel Library
18.20 – 19.55 Debate

Guests:
Peter Pomeranzev – UK writer and academic focused on research into disinformation and fake news, John Hopkins University, US
Marek Orko Vácha – head of the Institute for Ethics and Humanitarian Studies, 3 rd Medical Faculty, Charles University
Chair: Petra Mlejnková, political scientist and academic, Faculty of Social Studies, Masaryk University

19.55 – 20.00 Closing address: Michael Žantovský, Director of the Václav Havel Library

* The programme will take place in English and Czech with simultaneous interpretation into both languages. Free admission.