Enhancing democracy through affordable rental housing | U!REKA online-lecture series: Democracy under threat
Democracy is one of the ‘core values’ of the European Union. Together with the rule of law and human rights, it forms the normative basis for open, inclusive and just societies committed to tolerance, solidarity and non-discrimination. However, scholars and commentators have been speaking about a ‘crisis of democracy’ for decades, and it appears that this crisis has magnified in the last years.
In our online lecture series, we analyse the present moment and discuss what conditions it – in economic, political, socio-cultural, technological and ecological terms. And in so doing, we explore what democracy is, and what it could be, how it is threatened and why and what can be done to defend and extend it in a sustainable way.
18/01/2027, 16:00-17:00 (CET)
Enhancing democracy through affordable rental housing: Policy status and needs in Europe
Housing is becoming increasingly unaffordable across Europe, particularly in urban areas where rents and house prices have risen sharply in the past years. These developments are driven not only by market fundamentals but also by speculative price mark-ups. As a result, housing has become both a key driver of widening income and wealth inequalities and a growing source of political pressure. Surveys such as the Austrian Democracy Monitor show that rising living costs are a major public concern, while increasing inequality weakens perceptions of democratic representation, especially among lower-income groups, who are also most affected by rising housing costs. Based on these developments, the lecture examines policy measures to expand affordable rental housing, drawing on experiences from selected European countries.
Speaker: Elisabeth Springler (University of Applied Sciences for Business and Society BFI Vienna)
Chair: Fernando C. Gaspar (Polytechnic University of Lisbon)
Target Group
Lectures are open to everyone interested in questions of democracy and especially to all members of U!REKA universities including students and life-long learners.
Registration
is required – please click here. The online links will be provided by email together with the confirmation of the registration.