When does the online lecture take place?

The lecture takes place on Monday, October 26, 2026, from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM.

Where will the event be held?

The event will be held online via vhs.cloud with Zoom.

How much does it cost to participate?

Participation is free of charge.

Who is giving the lecture?

The speaker is Dr. Steffen Wamsler, political scientist and research associate at the Leibniz Institute for Educational Trajectories in Bamberg.

What technical requirements are needed?

An internet-enabled device as well as speakers or headphones are required.

How do participants receive the access data?

Access data will be sent after registration with the registration confirmation via email.

Political Trust in Crisis: This Online Evening Shows What Holds Our Society Together

Name: Political Trust and Social Cohesion in Times of Crisis
Start: 2026-10-26T19:00:00+01:00
End: 2026-10-26T20:30:00+01:00
Location: Online-Kurs

Political Trust in Times of Crisis: An Evening for Democratic Orientation

How does political trust change when crises shape everyday life and social uncertainties grow? The online lecture with Dr. Steffen Wamsler on October 26, 2026, sheds light on central questions surrounding trust in politics, conspiracy narratives, and social cohesion.

When Crisis Experiences Change Trust

The pandemic and other ongoing crisis experiences have significantly influenced political attitudes in Germany. The focus is on social groups that have been particularly affected by loss of trust, as well as the question of how political and social inequalities exacerbate these developments.

Conspiracy Narratives and Political Self-Efficacy

The lecture contextualizes the connection between altered political trust and the spread of conspiracy narratives. It also addresses political self-efficacy, democratic attitudes, and the ability to contextualize social changes.

Expert Knowledge from Current Political Education Research

Dr. Steffen Wamsler is a political scientist and research associate as well as coordinator of the project Political Attitudes and Political Participation as a Result of the Covid-19 Pandemic at the Leibniz Institute for Educational Trajectories in Bamberg. His research includes political and social trust, populism, emotions in politics, belief in conspiracy theories, and attitudes toward democracy.

Current evaluations of the PEPP-COV project show that political trust is an important component of democratic participation and social cohesion. The event combines scientific expertise with political education and is aimed at all who wish to better understand social developments.

Join Online with vhs Traunreut

The event is part of the Politics Online series of vhs Traunreut and takes place digitally via vhs.cloud with Zoom. Participants need an internet-enabled device along with speakers or headphones. Access data will be sent after registration with the confirmation via email.

Conclusion: Understanding Democracy Better

This online evening offers a concentrated insight into political trust processes, social polarization, and the foundations of democratic cohesion. Those who wish to objectively classify current consequences of crises and think about political participation will experience an informative event with a scientific perspective.