Finding Europe: re:publica Number Nine Is Colourful!

At re:publica 2015, we want to explore the digital culture in Europe and the particulars of European net politics. We are convinced that an update of our views on the ‘old continent’ is worthwhile in many ways – not despite, but because of the diversity that it encompasses.

So the motto Finding Europe is also a reminder to us as re:publica organizers, a mandate to investigate in places where the physical path often seems shorter than the virtual one: We feel at home in many European countries, but still don’t read their homepages and Twitter feeds – because to be honest, who speaks enough Czech, Greek or Swedish? Who is truly following the news from Lithuania, Finland and Portugal?

Statistics may inform us on how different European countries use the Internet, how they meet the challenges of the digital society or seize opportunities of the digital economy. But these are mere comparisons that hardly answer all those questions surrounding the “how” and “why”. Finding Europe wants to look into the peculiarities in all of these European nations. We will serve up a variety of dishes from the rich European cuisine, and let you get a taste of the specialties our neighbours have to offer – in a figurative as well as literal sense. You can look forward to a re:publica that is international in every sense of the word, an exploration that of course will not stop at the European borders. As every year, we are inviting guests from all over the world to present their thoughts on stage and discuss them with you – not least because the view from outside is necessary to explore our own images of Europe. Join us in finding the new in the Old World, in Finding Europe!