12 June | Tuesday | 18:30 | bg | Pesha Nikolova hall | free entrance

Petar Volgin is a journalist and a writer, well known in Bulgaria for the radio shows "Without Control", "Smoke over the Water", "Deconstruction", "12 + 3", as well as for his numerous articles in print and electronic media, especially in the magazine "A-Specto". Over the years, his articles have grown more and more critical of global liberal elites and the "liberal status quo" and his defense of the new political forces that are often described as populist has grown. In our conversation with Volgin about his personal ideological trajectories, we will try to better understand the sources of contemporary populism.

Moderator: Iliya Valkov, journalist.

More on the series "Ideological Trajectories: the New Dissidents"
Radical changes are taking place in the political landscapes of Europe and the world. In the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, Poland, Austria, Hungary, Greece, Spain, Germany and the United States, new anti-elite parties and candidates with almost no background are gaining broad support and winning elections, and in general dictating the political agenda. Their positions are varied – leaning both to the left and the right; but they champion a common criticism against traditional elites who have lost touch with the majority of ordinary voters' concerns and interests. These new players have their fierce opponents, they are often called populist, there are public appeals for their exclusion from politics. After decades of skepticism and apathy, confrontation and passion are returning to the core of political life. The negative side of this trend towards highly conflicting identity politics is the narrowing space for conversation.

In this series we analyze without prejudice the ideological displacements in contemporary society and the grounds a series of prominent public figures find for them. Why do politicians and intellectuals active in the first years of democracy now rebel against European elites? What turns a convinced pro-European into an advocate of Brexit? What changes in recent years have made such ideological shifts possible? What does it cost to leave the comfort zone of your own reference group and does this make you a "new dissident"? Is this the end of liberalism's hegemony and the end of the "End of History"?

The series "Ideological Trajectories: the New Dissidents" is organized by The Red House in partnership with the Europe-wide network of debating houses Time to Talk. The series is supported by a grant from the Foundation Open Society Institute in cooperation with the OSIFE of the Open Society Foundations.

27 March | Tuesday | a conversation with Frank Furedi and Ivan Krastev
18:30 | Red hall | En, Bg translation | Free entrance

Frank Furedi is the most cited English sociologist in the English press. In his latest book, "Populism and the European Culture Wars", he defends the thesis that the current anti-populist moral panic reveals the loss of faith of European liberal elites in democracy and the ability of ordinary people to be responsible citizens. But is there a radical democratic justification of populism? Frank Furedi will talk on the topic with political scientist Ivan Krastev.

Moderator: Dessislava Gavrilova, The Red House.


More on the series "Ideological Trajectories: the New Dissidents"

Radical changes are taking place in political landscapes of Europe and the world. In the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, Poland, Austria, Hungary, Greece, Spain, Germany and the United States, new anti-elite parties and candidates with almost no background are gaining broad support and winning elections, and in general dictating the political agenda. Their positions are varied – leaning both to the left and the right; but they champion a common criticism against traditional elites who have lost touch with the majority of ordinary voters' concerns and interests. These new players have their fierce opponents, they are often called populist, there are public appeals for their exclusion from politics. After decades of skepticism and apathy, confrontation and passion are returning to the core of political life. The negative side of this trend towards highly conflicting identity politics is the narrowing space for conversation.

In this series we analyze without prejudice the ideological displacements in contemporary society and the grounds a series of prominent public figures find for them. Why do politicians and intellectuals active in the first years of democracy now rebel against European elites? What turns a convinced pro-European into an advocate of Brexit? What changes in recent years have made such ideological shifts possible? What does it cost to leave the comfort zone of your own reference group and does this make you a "new dissident"? Is this the end of liberalism's hegemony and the end of the "End of History"?

The series "Ideological Trajectories: the New Dissidents" is organized by The Red House in partnership with the Europe-wide network of debating houses Time to Talk. The series is supported by a grant from the Foundation Open Society Institute in cooperation with the OSIFE of the Open Society Foundations.

Reservations: you can reserve a seat by calling 02/988 8188, 0885 828 532 or e-mailing [email protected]. Reservations are valid up to 15 minutes before the start of the event.

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Starting in 2018, the symbolic ticket for every free event entitles you to a free glass of wine at the Red Point Bistro if you choose to dine there. If the event is paid, you will receive a 10% discount on your orders at the venue. Keep your tickets!