The French historian and intellectual Pierre Rosanvallón received the title Doctor Honoris Causa from the UNR and gave a lecture on democracy in the XNUMXst century.

Pierre Rosanvallon is a renowned professor at the Collège de France and Director of Studies at the prestigious École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales. His work and academic work are mainly related to the history of democracy, the French political model, the role of the State and the question of social justice in contemporary societies. His books were translated into eighteen languages, published in twenty-three countries, and became an indispensable work for historians, philosophers, political scientists, and sociologists around the world.

Under the sponsorship of the dean of the Faculty of Political Science Gustavo Marini, the Universidad Nacional de Rosario He was awarded the title of Doctor Honoris Causa in an event that took place at the University Cultural Space. Then, the intellectual gave a conference called “Democracy in the 21st century: between perspectives of redefinition and threats of regression”, moderated by Alejandro Katz.

“We come to recognize not only his trajectory of excellence but also his commitment as a public intellectual, his lucid, acute, rigorous analysis but also attentive, sensitive and committed to our time”, stated the Rector of the UNR. “Being able to understand what is happening in our region, imagining possible ways to overcome it, and being able to publicly ratify the commitment of university students to democracy, to the defense of human rights, is an extraordinary opportunity,” Bartolacci highlighted.

a society of equals

"It was always thought that the dangers for democracy came from abroad through invasions, totalitarianism or dictatorships, but currently they are threatened from within by the dissatisfaction of the citizens themselves," said Rosanvallón, who considers that there is a need to reflect on democracies at a global level given that they are weakened and questioned. The professor affirmed that democracies not only define a political regime but also a form of society, "a society of equals, a space where one can live without status or hierarchies, equal in dignity."

This definition had many problems due to the growth of inequalities due to two central issues, according to his analysis: on the one hand, that a small number of citizens can hoard surplus value, and on the other, the distance between the language of the candidate that promises in his campaign and that of the ruler with his limitations. This lack of integration and representativeness is "a machine that produces disappointment."

“There are forms of expanded democracy that have to bring into play new instruments for the production of social equality. This is not defined only by economics, but by the possibility and ability to live as equals in the same territory”, maintained the French Professor and stressed: “Equality must be refounded in this era of inequalities”. For Rosanvallón, democracy is the regime that makes the common man have the same value within society, that he is a bearer of rights and in this sense he believes that the guardians of this definition are the constitutional courts.

Journalist: Victoria Arrabal / Photographer: Camila Casero