The opening ceremony featured addresses by Prof. Josip Faričić, PhD, Rector of the University of Zadar, Prof. Marko Vučetić, PhD, Head of the Department of Philosophy, and Prof. Jure Zovko, PhD, on behalf of the organizing committee. The lectures addressed topics such as universal human rights and the crisis of democracy, new forms of fascism, the relationship between democracy and history, political participation in contemporary China, the critique of consensual democracy, post-Marxist democratic theory, and the role of truth and historical interpretation.
The second part of the conference was focusing on the historical and democratic dimensions of scientific objectivity, the relationship between truth and democracy, the legacy of totalitarian and autocratic periods in Croatian history, and philosophical questions concerning history and truth. The panel discussion “Is Democracy Threatened by Populism?” provided an opportunity for broader discussion and exchange among the participants. Throughout the conference, particular attention was given to the ways in which democratic societies interpret their historical experience and how historical narratives can, in turn, influence contemporary democratic institutions and values.
Overall, the conference provided a valuable interdisciplinary forum for examining the complex relationship between history, democracy, truth, and political responsibility. By bringing together academics and experts from several European universities and institutions, the event encouraged critical reflection on contemporary democratic challenges while also emphasizing the importance of historical awareness for the future of democratic societies.
