Can Other Species Be A Part of The Political Community? 

With "Can other species be a part of the political community?", we introduce the second event series in our new format, “On Air”.

Most conceptions of democracy are built on the human voice. You count because you speak, and by proxy because you vote and elect people who will speak for you. And yet, over the past decade, this assumption has increasingly been challenged.

Amid accelerating environmental, climate, and biodiversity crises, it is becoming increasingly clear that other animals are not only affected by political decisions, but also have forms of flourishing that can be supported or undermined. And as a result, discussions about the rights of nature and interspecies democracy have intensified. But how can other species be included in our political community? Do animals already have a form of political subjecthood? And how can we move beyond the conception of interspecies democracy as a speculative artistic gesture?

Note: This is 2 of 3 talks that are part of the event series “On Air: Redesigning Democracy” — book a seat for the whole program here

Join “On Air” for an intimate, behind-the-scenes experience and be there in person as our podcasts come to life. Enjoy the conversations live with a small crowd and meet the guests afterwards for a drink in our exhibition space at Halmtorvet 27.

Participants:

Mickey Gjerris is Associate Professor in bioethics at the University of Copenhagen, whose research focuses on the ethical questions that arise at the intersection of humans, nature, and technology — spanning animal ethics, food ethics, and climate ethics.

Lucy Reid is Chief Strategy & Creative Officer at DemocracyNext, whose work — spanning the arts, journalism, and 16 years in senior roles at the National Trust — focuses on accelerating the spread of citizens' assemblies internationally.