Political Symposium

This year's Political Symposium in Alpbach is dedicated to the topic of "Boundaries and Beyond." Be it progressive or defensive, politics has always dealt with - or had to deal with - the problem of borders and boundaries. The fundamental question - sometimes even a dilemma - is as follows: Where should existing boundaries be crossed, and where can boundaries be regarded as a beneficial form of delineation and/or a constructive contribution? As the world of politics is always in motion, boundaries are often seen as something relative and usually temporary. In this sense, the crossing of geographical, political, economic, legal and cultural boundaries constitutes either a future necessity or an adaptation to changing circumstances. On the other hand, boundaries can also serve at least as a temporary basis - or even a pre-condition - for the success of a political project, for example.