Not just now in times of simultaneous crises, we need to put our heads together to rethink inclusive political participation — not only for the protection of fundamental democratic values but also for self-defence and self-protection. Right-wing governments are no longer a rarity in the EU, as the current election results in Italy show. Their election leads to increasingly restrictive asylum and migration policies that cost lives at Europe's borders. In addition to the international COVID-19 pandemic, we are now confronted with a war in Europe and more people fleeing war. The energy crisis now follows the climate crisis.

Facing  these problems requires  strengthening democracy. But we can only do this if all people living in our society are able to participate in decision-making. Many countries in the European Union only allow EU nationals to vote, even at the local level. This means that many EU citizens and illegalised people are excluded from formal participation. This is why we want to discuss the possibilities of shaping politics beyond the standardised and exclusionary spaces and how barriers can be removed. We want to address the following questions:

What does political participation mean?
How can conventional forms of participation be expanded through artistic interventions?
Which ways of making politics are needed to develop inclusive political spaces?

With this event we invite you to deepen and develop political coalitions, networks and participation formats. The evening will focus on creative approaches to strengthening the participation of people with a migratory background. We will discuss with the participants how conventional and artistic forms for political processes can merge to enable a new kind of democratic participation. Hamze Bytyci (Artistic director of Grüner Salon and RomaTrial e.V.), Katja Utrosa from the Gmajna Cultural Association in Ljubljana, and Birgit zur Nieden, Head of Department for Participation in the Migration Society of the Berlin Senate Department for Integration, Labour and Social Affairs, as well as an Moro Yapha of Wearebornfree! Empowerment Radio will speak with us.

Afterwards, we warmly invite you to further exchange over food and drinks.

** The title of the event is a nod to Kanak Attak – the antiracist network and community of different people from diverse backgrounds who share a commitment to eradicate racism from German society.