New Digital Lecture Series Probes Citizenship and Human Rights in a Changing World

A new Digital Lecture Series is exploring the relationship between citizenship and human rights, blending historical insights with forward-looking ideas. Organised by the Moses Mendelssohn Center for European-Jewish Studies in Potsdam, the talks will examine how human rights remain a political promise requiring ongoing defence. The series is led by Miriam Rürup, director of the Moses Mendelssohn Center. Her research focuses on the United Nations’ efforts to address statelessness after World War II, particularly the concept of universal belonging. Statelessness—a condition where individuals lack any nationality—has repeatedly emerged as a widespread issue with severe real-world effects.

Citizenship plays a crucial role in immigration societies, ensuring equal participation, social rights, and political influence. The talks, supported by the Berthold Leibinger Foundation, will reflect on the past, present, and future of human rights as both a legal framework and an evolving ideal. Covering the series is Dinah Riese, who heads the domestic news desk at our website. Previously, she reported on migration and integration, earning awards for her investigative work on Germany’s advertising ban on abortions.

The Digital Lecture Series brings together historical analysis and contemporary debates on human rights. By examining statelessness and citizenship, the discussions aim to highlight the ongoing need to protect and expand these fundamental principles. The events are open to the public and supported by the Berthold Leibinger Foundation.