Felix Meritis - Agenda - Night of the Constitutional State 2011

Friday November 25 2011 / Citizenship

Night of the Constitutional State 2011

After the success of The Night of the Constitutional State in 2010, FORUM and Felix Meritis are organizing the second edition of The Night.

Pictures: Rebke Klokke

Writers, politicians, policy makers, scientists, lawyers and philosophers will debate with each other and the public about the importance of the constitutional state. What is their vision of the constitutional design of the Netherlands? This year's theme is the involvement of citizens in the constitutional state with among others a platform for freethinkers and citizens.

More than ever citizens are looking for a common framework in which to resolve conflicts and reduce tensions. The debate about the constitutional state has increased dramatically: in discussions on a wide range of topics and events, people speak about the constitutional state in answer to fundamental questions. Not only in the public debate but also in the political arena, there seems to be consensus on the importance of the rule of law.

At the same time many people experience a distance from the constitutional state and its institutions. They do not feel represented, like foreigners in their own country. On a more fundamental level, this reflects a tension between the rule of law and its non-negotiable principles, on the one hand, and on the other the necessary ongoing democratic debate in which questions of values, culture and identity are constantly discussed.

Once the constitutional state and its institutions lose touch with the democratic debate, or if they are based on a petrified conception of culture, then legitimacy is called in question. Without democracy there can be no constitutional state, and without a constitutional state no democratic process.

This is why the commitment to the democratic constitutional state is the central theme of The Night of the Constitutional State in 2011. Only a deep-rooted rule of law that is open to many perspectives on this society can cope with the challenges of our time.

The evening will be opened by Linda Bouws (director Felix Meritis) and Sadik Harchaoui (Chair of the Board of Directors FORUM).

With: Piet Hein Donner, Eberhard van der Laan, André Rouvoet, Marietje Schaake, Bas Heijne, Menno Hurenkamp, Dick Pels, Willem Schinkel, Jan Kuitenbrouwer, Beatrice de Graaf, Thomas von der Dunk, Hans Laroes, Inez Weski, Willem van Bennekom, Wibren van der Burg, Gervaise Coebergh, Jacques Monasch, Joop Hazenberg, Boris van der Ham, Lilianne Ploumen, Dennis de Jong, Najiba Abdellaoui, Kirsten van den Hul, Marcel Duyvestijn, Kustaw Bessens and others. Moderators: Felix Rottenberg, Hans Harbers, Stijn Sieckelinck, Andrew Makkinga and others.