Aue Symposium 2025: Crisis – Perceptions, decisions and actions in an intercultural comparison between Germany and Finland
6. November 2025, 6.30 p.m.
Finnish National Library, Cupola Hall (Unioninkatu 36, Helsinki)
The event will be held in English. Participation is open to everyone and free of charge. Registration is required and will be opened in Autumn.
In the public debate in Germany, one can observe an inflationary use of the term “crisis”; there is even increasing talk of a “permanent crisis”. In Finland, on the other hand, it seems as if the perception of a situation as “critical” is reserved for particularly exceptional events. Breath- and endless crisis debates here, “keep calm and carry on” mentality there: does this simplistic juxtaposition correspond to the facts, or do established views need to be questioned? What conclusions can be drawn from the comparison of crisis perception in public opinion and rhetorical framing? What can be said about political and social decision-making processes, political legitimacy and actual action in critical situations against the background of an increasingly complex and multilateral geopolitical situation? Two experts from the fields of political science and international relations from the two countries will discuss this topic. The format of a moderated dialog with introductory short statements promises a competent, intensive and clearly structured debate.
Panelists:
Prof. Dr. Margit Bussmann, University of Greifswald
Margit Bussmann holds the Chair of International Relations and Regional Studies at the University of Greifswald since 2010. She received her M.A. (1997) and Ph.D. (2001) at the University of Alabama and her Habilitation (2009) at the University of Konstanz. Her research interests include the causes, consequences, and dynamics of international and domestic armed conflicts, violence against civilians, and post-conflict stability as well as the relationship between economic globalization, development and different dimensions of inequality. Currently her research focuses on the security architecture in the Baltic Sea region and Germany’s perception in the region. She is heading the research cluster on security and international relations at the Interdisciplinary Center for Baltic Sea Region Research at the University of Greifswald. Her most recent publications are Presidential Popularity and International Crises: An Assessment of the Rally-‘Round-the-Flag Effect in Russia in Post-Soviet Affairs (2024, with Natalia Iost), ‘Canada is a big deal here’: The eFP battlegroup and host nation public opinion in International Journal (2024, with Andris Banka) and Uncomfortable neighbors: NATO, Russia and the shifting logic of military exercises in the Baltics in Defence Studies (2023, with Andris Banka).
Assoc.-Prof. Dr. Johanna Vuorelma, University of Helsinki
Johanna Vuorelma holds a PhD in Politics and International Studies from University of Warwick (2017) and received her M.A. from University College London (2008). She is currently working as University Researcher at the Centre for European Studies, University of Helsinki and is Associate Professor of Political Science at University of Turku. Her research interests include political language, legitimacy and authority in politics, and trust and distrust in international politics. She is currently pursuing research projects on irony in international politics and the nexus between militarism and democracy in Finland, both funded by the KONE Foundation. Her recent books include Irony in International Politics (Edinburgh University Press 2024) and Narrative Traditions in International Politics (Palgrave Macmillan 2022). She was a co-recipient of the 2020 Science Book of the Year Prize awarded by the Finnish Association of Scholarly Publishing.
Moderator:
Dr. Benjamin Schweitzer
Benjamin Schweitzer studied music in Dresden and Helsinki and linguistics with focus on Finnish Studies in Greifswald and Tartu. He is currently pursuing a research project on the Finnish avant-garde discourse (funded by the KONE Foundation) and works as translator, lecturer, moderator and composer.
In co-operation with:
