The Art of Communicating Together – A Small School of Democracy

The quality of our communication shapes the quality of our lives. Bernhard Pörksen, Professor of Media Studies at the University of Tübingen, addressed a full audience on the evolving art of dialogue. In an age when discussions often turn into arguments and people retreat into silos, connecting with one another has become more important than ever. But how do we engage those who seem unreachable?

Professor Pörksen’s approach to dialogue blends empathy with clear, respectful confrontation and is guided by five key principles, including appreciation, perspective-sharing, and non-egocentric discussion.

His insightful keynote was followed by a dynamic Q&A session, the questions from which will inform the content of upcoming roundtables on this topic. We extend our gratitude to all participants for bringing their enthusiasm and thoughtful contributions to this memorable evening.