In conversation with Prof. Dr. Gülay Çağlar (SCRIPTS, Freie Universität Berlin)

Moderator: -

The digital public sphere promises opportunities for people to share their perspectives, shape debates and make their voices heard. But who can actually take advantage of these opportunities? Whose voices are heard—and who is pushed out of public debate through hostility, intimidation or online violence?

Gülay Çağlar discusses online hate and the conditions for participation in society. The conversation also explores a tension: How can online violence be curbed without jeopardising freedom of expression and open debate? Who decides where legitimate expression ends and where protection becomes necessary? And how can we shape a public sphere in which diverse voices are heard?

Prof. Dr. Gülay Çağlar is Professor of Political Science with a focus on Gender and Diversity at the Otto Suhr Institute of Freie Universität Berlin and a Principal Investigator at the SCRIPTS Cluster of Excellence. Her research interests include gender politics, feminist perspectives on political power and participation in society. She led the project “Mapping the Germanosphere” and currently works on the Volkswagen Foundation-funded project “Caught in the Crossfire”, investigating online violence in political contexts and institutional responses to protect democracy.

An event organised by the SCRIPTS Cluster of Excellence (Contestations of the Liberal Script) in cooperation with Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin.