The 2nd International Conference organized by the Alexis Tsipras Institute will take place on June 10 at the Nikos Skalkotas Hall of the Athens Concert Hall, focusing on Democracy and Social Justice. The conference brings together leading global voices from politics, academia, and activism, including U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, Ines Schwerdtner (co-chair of Germany’s Die Linke), former Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta, and François Ruffin, co-founder of France’s Nouveau Front Populaire.

A Critical Gathering Amid Global Crises

According to organizers, the event is set against the backdrop of escalating conflicts in Ukraine and Palestine, the potential return of Donald Trump to the U.S. presidency, the militarization of European politics, the normalization of “might makes right” in international affairs, the entrenchment of corporate interests in executive power, and the rise of authoritarian regimes. These dynamics, they say, fuel the far-right’s coordination across the Atlantic, deepen inequality, and erode democracy itself.

The conference aims to foster a transatlantic movement for Democracy and Social Justice, grounded in progressive policies that defend democratic institutions, tackle inequality, promote global peace, and safeguard social rights in the digital age.

Former Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras will deliver the closing speech of the conference.

Key Panels and Speakers

Panel: Building a Movement for Democracy and Social Justice Across the Atlantic

• Bernie Sanders – U.S. Senator and iconic champion of democracy and civil rights
• Ines Schwerdtner – Co-chair of Germany’s Die Linke and rising star of the European Left
• Enrico Letta – Former Italian Prime Minister, advocate of progressive social reforms
• François Ruffin – French MP and co-founder of the Nouveau Front Populaire
• Elly Schlein – Secretary of Italy’s Democratic Party (PD), a new progressive voice
• Yolanda Díaz – Spain’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Labor, leading reformist of the pragmatic Left

Panel: The Progressive Response to the Crisis of Democracy

• Michael Sandel – Renowned Harvard political philosopher and public intellectual
• Marshall Ganz – Veteran civil rights and labor organizer, Harvard Kennedy School
• Jeffrey Kopstein – Political scientist, expert on authoritarianism and institutional erosion
• Humberto Costa – Brazilian Senator, former Health Minister, President of the Workers’ Party
• Christina Koulouri – Historian and Rector, Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences
• Venko Filipče – New leader of North Macedonia’s Social Democratic Party (SDSM)
• Nazlı Akyüz – Member of Istanbul’s Metropolitan Council, Chair of EU and Foreign Relations
• Garo Paylan – Former Turkish MP and human rights defender from the HDP
• Leo Gerdén – Representative of Harvard Students for Freedom, student activist against Trump-era policies

Panel: Democracy and the Digital Transformation

• Emily Tavoulareas – Assistant Professor, Georgetown University McCourt School, expert on tech and public policy
• Elisavet Linos – Associate Professor at Harvard University, expert in behavioral public administration
• Christos Porios – Software engineer and founder of Schema Labs, a civic tech nonprofit
• Konstantinos Kakavoulis – Co-founder of HomoDigitalis, Greece’s first NGO for digital rights advocacy
• Kostas Gavroglou – Historian of science, former Education Minister, known for progressive reforms in education

Prespa Peace Prize 2025

As part of the conference, the Alexis Tsipras Institute will award the Prespa Peace Prize 2025 to the creators of the award-winning documentary “No Other Land”:

• Basel Adra, Palestinian filmmaker
• Hamdan Ballal, Palestinian photographer and activist
• Yuval Abraham, Israeli journalist
• Rachel Szor, Israeli director

Hamdan Ballal and Yuval Abraham will attend the ceremony to accept the award.

Event Moderation and Coordination

The event will be moderated by journalist Dora Anagnostopoulou and actor-director Aimilios Cheilakis. Thematic sessions will be coordinated by Dora Kotsaka, PhD in Political Sociology, and Haris Tzimitras, Director of the Cyprus Center at the Peace Research Institute Oslo.