The Iron Curtain came down 20 years ago and Europe´s internal border disappeared. Europe was promised a new age of peace and equality. The conference picks up the topic addressed at the conference „European Art 20 years after the Fall of the Iron Curtain”, which
took place on the 9th of July on Marquardt Castle. Artists and Curators, Writers and Journalists from Eastern and Western Europe looked into the subject of theory, reality and future of art and democracy in Europe.

The conference “Democracy´s Promise: 20 Years after 1989” took a closer look at changes which democracy has undergone since 1989 and also at its future. Firstly, Prof. Colin Crouch and Prof. Dr. Claus Offe explored democracy and its future. Then Prof. Gáspár Miklós Tamás and Dr. Thomas Grumke talked about hazards for democracy. Especially in times of crisis, democracy runs the risk of being undermined, as people are more vulnerable to ideas which undercut equality and freedom. The conference focused on the debate about realities and development of democracy, its potentials and challenges. What has democracy nowadays to offer and what is it able to
supply? What are the promises made by democracy in 1989 and which promises have been realised?