European Centre for Art, Culture and Science

Friday November 18 2011 / Citizenship

Kerdijk Lecture: Beyond Meritocracy

Arnold Kerdijk, (1846-1905), a prominent politician from the end of the nineteenth century, contributed significantly to the right to vote, education and social work. He also played a leading role at the time in the so-called "Social Question". In his view, the gap between rich and poor could be bridged by educating the workers.

Although there are evident parallels between the challenges of today's multicultural society and the Social Question of the past, it is debatable whether solutions applied then will still work here today. Should we reinvent the educational idea of the nineteenth century? Is there a need for a form of positive paternalism?

The Dutch Labour Party (PvdA) emerged from the Free-Thinking Democratic League (VDB) that Kerdijk founded. In the first Kerdijk Lecture, Job Cohen, leader of the PvdA, will present his views on positive paternalism. After the lecture Cohen will engage in discussion with Dick Kuiper (Emeritus Professor of Sociology) and Dick Pels (Director of the Scientific Bureau of the Green Left Party). Moderator: Martijn de Greve.

The new biography of Arnold Kerdijk will also be presented in the presence of the author Wibo Schepel. Musical entertainment will be provided by Jessica Manuputty.

Organised by Stichting Kerdijk Actueel and Felix Meritis

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