Josef Seethaler, Austrian scholar at the Austrian Academy of Sciences and at the Universities of Vienna and Klagenfurt, was the guest of a new episode of the Mandl-Mikro Podcast.
Drawing on extensive comparative research conducted in cooperation with ten European member states on anti-democratic tendencies, Seethaler contributed not only at a theoretical level but also to practical democratic innovation. His work has supported the development of Citizen Parliaments, which have so far taken place in four countries.
In conversation with Lukas Mandl, Austrian Member of the European Parliament, Seethaler reflected on the motivations behind his academic work and on the democratic potential of Citizen Parliaments as participatory instruments. The discussion highlighted how these initiatives are closely connected to the European Parliament, the institutional representation of European citizens since 1979.
This podcast episode offers valuable insights into the relationship between research, participatory democracy, and European institutions, themes that resonate strongly with the objectives of MeDeMAP – Mapping Media for Future Democracies. Listen to here.