Life in the Age of the Permanent Crisis

Description

Pandemic, war, inflation, climate crisis, digital overload, geopolitical tensions – many people experience the present as a time of permanent uncertainty. The feeling that one crisis follows another increasingly shapes everyday life, politics, and social mood. At the same time, many people’s fear of losing control and an unclear future grows. The course deals with the question of why modern societies today are often perceived as particularly crisis-ridden. Have crises actually increased – or is it mainly our perception that changes due to permanent digital information flows? Why do social media and news cycles often create a feeling of constant alertness? And why do people increasingly react to uncertainty with withdrawal, anger, or polarization? On the first evening, the course analyzes the major crisis experiences of recent years: pandemic, Ukraine war, inflation, energy crisis, global power shifts, and digital overload. It also examines how media, politics, and social networks can amplify or emotionalize feelings of crisis. The second evening is dedicated to the social consequences: fear, exhaustion, loss of trust, and political polarization. Why do many people today long more strongly for security, orientation, and simple answers? What psychological and social mechanisms operate in times of permanent uncertainty? And how can social stability still be maintained under conditions of constant crises? Course leader: Dr. phil. Gunnar Henrich studied political science and history in Freiburg im Breisgau and the People's Republic of China and earned his doctorate at the University of Bonn with Professor Xuewu Gu on Chinese Africa policy.

Highlights

• Course on the perception of crises in modern society
• Analysis of pandemic, war, and inflation
• Discussion of social consequences such as fear and polarization

General Information

The course "Life in the Age of the Permanent Crisis" takes place at the Volkshochschule Solothurn and deals with the perception of crises in today's time. Over two evenings, the major crisis experiences of recent years and their social impacts are analyzed.

Location

Hauptbahnhofstrasse 8, 4500 Solothurn, Schweiz

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