Whose truth counts? With Aladin El-Mafaalani and Giovanni di Lorenzo
Why are people today more likely to trust self-appointed experts expounding crude theories on the internet, rather than specialists with verifiable qualifications? What is behind this loss of trust in our society’s central institutions, such as the press and academia – and what does this mean for our democracy? Taking his book, Misstrauensgemeinschaften [Communities of Distrust], as a starting point, sociologist Aladin El-Mafaalani talks to Giovanni di Lorenzo, editor in chief of Die Zeit, about the causes and consequences of a profound societal transformation. They explore why distrust can develop such great social power, how trust might be regained – and what media and academia must do to remain trustworthy.
A conversation about polarization, education and how much doubt a society can withstand. Host: Sarah Brasack
Contributors
Sarah Brasack
Sarah Brasack, born in 1979, is deputy editor-in-chief of the Kölner … This text was shortened for this overview. Follow the more-link to read the full text.
Aladin El-Mafaalani
Aladin El-Mafaalani, born in 1978 in the Ruhr area, is Professor of… This text was shortened for this overview. Follow the more-link to read the full text.
Giovanni di Lorenzo
Born in 1959, Giovanni di Lorenzo is editor in chief of the weekly… This text was shortened for this overview. Follow the more-link to read the full text.
Books
Event data
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Date:
Saturday
07. March 2026
17:00 -
Pre Pre sale price (fees excluded) ab 16 €
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Accessibility
- Wheelchair friendly + toilets Available
- Assistance dogs welcome Available
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