Zurich Salon presents Battle of Ideas Zurich 2018

OCTOBER 20, 2018
10 AM – 5 PM
AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ZURICH

In a rapidly changing world, debating ideas matters more than ever. The Battle of Ideas Zurich festival provides a unique forum to discuss the big issues of our time. Speakers include Professor Dr Gerhard Schmitt debating do we need an urban revolution, Ronnie Grob debating the threat posed by populism, Thomas Held debating Art, Music, Protest: The Cultural Legacy of 1968 and Michèle Binswanger #MeToo and Andreas Kyriacou whether to separate religion and state in Switzerland.

Moreover, this is not an invitation for you to come along passively. The most searching questions and smartest insights often come from the floor, not the panellists. If you are worried about the quality of public debate and want to really be part of the discussion, come along and join in.

(Click on the sessions links for more detailed descriptions including speakers)

09:00 – 10:30 Registration

10:30 Plenary debate: The future of Europe in an age of populism

12:00 Lunch

13:30 – 14:45 Session 1 (choose between 3 parallel topics)

• Art, music, protest: The cultural legacy of 1968

• Immigration and citizenship: Is there a future for free movement?

• #metoo, one year on: Where next for feminism?

14:45 Coffee

15:30 – 16:45  Session 2 (choose between 2 parallel topics)

• Do we need an ‘urban revolution’?

• Should we keep religion and the state separate? (this session will be in German)

16:45 Cocktail reception with live music

The Battle of Ideas festival opens with traditional Japanese drums and will close with a classic performance on a marimba and a free cocktail reception for all participants courtesy of the city and the canton of Zurich.

The Battle of Ideas in Zurich is a cooperation between Academy of Ideas in London and Zurich Salon in association with Volkshochschule Zurich, Freethinkers Association of Switzerland, Zurich Expats, our venue partner University of Zurich, and 25hours Hotel Zurich Langstrasse.