Lecture series: Transformation of statehood and municipal infrastructure - innovation or blockade?

The lecture series "Transformations and the urban-rural relationship (in North Hesse)" focuses on different facets of the socio-ecological turnaround, including the region of North Hesse. Every week, two speakers from academia and practice will give lectures and discuss with each other. One of the lectures will be dedicated to reviewing the general state of knowledge on individual aspects of the transformation. The second lecture will focus on North Hesse and discuss the challenges arising from the socio-ecological transition for the region. The aim is to work out which new urban-rural conflicts are associated with the expansion of renewable energies, which challenges the North Hessian economy is facing and that the transformation processes not only have an economic side, but are also changing the North Hessian party and media landscape

Organization: Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Schroeder, Head of the Department of Political System of the Federal Republic of Germany - Statehood in Transition

Topic on 29.11.2022: Transformation of statehood and municipal infrastructure - innovation or blockade?
Digitalization is driving transformations in all areas of the economy, society and politics. Nevertheless, these are not deterministic processes. Rather, there are opportunities and necessities for shaping them. Therefore, goal-oriented political control based on a vision of the future is required. Digitalization also appears to be changing the potential for governance and the possible instruments. So to what extent can we speak of a transformation of statehood? In addition to the control dimension, the design of the performance dimension plays a decisive role for the modern state. How do the infrastructures of services of general interest and their provision change in times of multiple transformations? The question of discrepancies between urban and rural areas in particular arises not only with regard to (non-)existing digital infrastructures from the point of view of equal living conditions.

Speakers: Dr. Samuel Greef (University of Kassel; Department of Political System of the Federal Republic of Germany), Manuela Strube (Mayor of the City of Baunatal)