18.06.25 / Lecture by Dr. Wim Blockmans: The Cradle of Democracy. Origin and Erosion of Political Participation in Europe (NL)
Lecture by Dr. Wim Blockmans: The Cradle of Democracy. Origin and Erosion of Political Participation in Europe
Cover of the book © Uitgeverij Prometheus
History has traditionally been written from the perspective of rulers, the victors of inevitable power struggles.
Only in Europe could certain groups of ordinary people, from the Middle Ages onward, influence political policies at the level of principalities. The institutions established for this purpose operated very differently, were not accessible to everyone, and often became corrupt.
From the 19th century onward, nation-states justified the existence of elected parliaments by pointing to their ancient predecessors.
Only now do we truly understand how political participation developed across Europe and how it functioned in practice.
LECTURER: Wim Blockmans
Dr. Wim Blockmans is an emeritus professor of history.
After earning his doctorate at Ghent University, he taught at, among others, Erasmus University Rotterdam and Leiden University, where he was a professor of medieval history from 1987 to 2010.
From 2002 to 2010, he also served as rector of the Institute for Advanced Study in the Humanities and Social Sciences in Wassenaar.
He is a member of the Dutch, British, European, and Flemish Academies and the author of several works, including Medezeggenschap. Politieke participatie in Europa vóór 1800 (2020), recently translated into English as The Voice of the People? (2024).
Portrait Wim Blockmans © Uitgeverij Promotheus / Photographer © Koen Broos
Practical
Wednesday 18/06/2025 at 6 pm, in Dutch
Entrance : 5 € / 3 € (when showing a proof of membership at Willemsfonds, Davidsfonds, Masereelfonds of the Friends of the Erasmus House at the frontdesk of Erasmus House)
Payment on site
A partnership Davidsfonds – Willemsfonds – Masereelfonds – Erasmus House
