On 30 November, Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier – in cooperation with the Bertelsmann Foundation – hosted a panel discussion at Schloss Bellevue on Freedom of thought in turbulent times. It was the second event in a series, Forum Bellevue on the Future of Democracy.

The panel discussion included the authors Salman Rushdie, Eva Menasse and Daniel Kehlmann, and focused on what role intellectuals and literature can play in turbulent times, as well as on the current state of the freedom of thought.

Together, they discussed what role intellectuals should play when new intellectual and emotional barriers arise in our societies, more and more people withdraw from public debate, and authoritarian ideas gain traction. How should we, as a liberal society, deal with attacks on the freedom of opinion? Are intellectuals losing some of their authority? What is the current state of the relationship between literature and politics? And to what extent do literature and art still have the power to express critical and enlightening thinking in Germany and around the world? Does contemporary literature reflect the political changes that liberal democracies are experiencing? The discussion was moderated by the journalist Luiza Braun.