Conversations is a space for dialogue. It brings together students, academics and partners from across the DEN community to share the ideas, questions and research that matter to them. The section began during the COVID-19 pandemic, when we invited students from around the world to reflect, in writing or on video, on their experiences of studying through an extraordinary time, and to learn from one another in the process. Those reflections remain an important part of our story. Today, Conversations grows beyond the pandemic to host exchanges on the widest range of subjects: from politics and law to education, society and the questions our visiting scholars bring with them. Each piece is an invitation to think together, in the spirit of democratic, dialogue-led learning that defines DEN.
We are delighted to open this new chapter with a conversation from our tenth-anniversary programme: a written interview with Professor Horacio Gago Prialé of the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru (PUCP), reflecting on democracy in Peru, drawing on the work of Luhmann and Dahrendorf, during his visit to the University of Westminster.
In conversation with Professor Horacio Gago Prialé, Pontifical Catholic University of Peru Interview by Negena Mahmoud (BA Politics and International Relations) and Ariadna Rita Lemos De Oliveira (LLM International Law) Director of the Democratic Education Network University of Westminster | October 2026 [Photograph] Pictured: Professor Peter Bonfield, Vice-Chancellor; Associate Professor Farhang Morady, Director of the...
In these past couple of years, we have suffered a substantial global crisis, and we had to come together to find the best possible solutions to survive. We had an unprecedented challenge that threatened to break the World as we know it, so we fought together, slowly coming out as the winning side. Or are...
It is so undeniably difficult to argue against the statement that the concept of change became one of the key concepts depicting the events of the recent two years. People are changing, cities are changing, the world is changing. Nevertheless, due to many factors, this change is experienced differently by different people. It won’t be...
Prior to starting my internship with Democratic Education Network (DEN), I only had a few ideas about it. I was involved in various projects, including the editorial of DEN’s annual book with a number of students. This academic year has been different, as teaching and learning has been virtual. During the first semester, I attended...
Adjusting and having to adapt to a new lifestyle with Covid-19 has not been easy, but I have learnt a lot. One word to describe my experience since the start of Covid-19 would be grateful. This period of uncertainty has taught me to be grateful, not only for a healthy life but family and loved...
The turn of a new decade saw the world come to a standstill as we witnessed the global spread of COVID-19. Due to the globalised nature of the world the novel virus initially discovered in Wuhan, China spread rapidly across the globe transcending state borders and control. While governments of all states are reacting to...
Tuesday 21 July 2020 2020, the start of a new beginning, a fresh start for many and a year thought to bring us hope and joy much like every other year. However, this year took a slight turn and since February things turned pretty sour. When the World Health organisation had declared the Coronavirus to...
This year I spent a lot of time in solitude, and I have learned how mentally and physically hard it can be. Still, there are so many people who lost their jobs, houses, and loved ones. When I think about it, there is still much to be cherished in my life; I am grateful to...
I clearly remember the time when I was preparing my application. From the very first day, I knew what I wanted. I wanted to study in the UK. After receiving acceptances from different universities, I had my eye on Westminster. I had heard about the diverse environment in this university, and the different social groups...
For most of us, the conditions of lockdowns and curfews imposed by governments across the world are new. From Wuhan to London, millions are struggling with the new normal: universities have had to switch online, employees work remotely and everyone remains inside as part of the government’s weak attempt to gain some control. For many,...
It is safe to say that the “Class of 2020 Experience” is quite unlike what other fresh graduates lived through when they finished their studies. After an exhausting dissertation and a nerve-wracking waiting period for one’s final results, the only thing soon-to-be graduates can look forward to is the celebration at the end of it...