Johan Skytte Prize Lecture 2026: Demographic Change and Democratic Vistas
- Date
- 9 October 2026, 14:00–15:00
- Location
- Brusewitz Hall
- Type
- Lecture
- Lecturer
- Seyla Benhabib, Eugene Meyer Professor of Political Science and Philosophy, Emerita, Yale University; Senior Research Scholar, Columbia Law School
- Organiser
- Department of Government
- Contact person
- Markus Sjölén
- Language
- English
Seyla Benhabib, Skytte Prize Laureate of 2026, delivers her prize lecture in Brusewitz Hall on 9 October.
Abstract
Migration has emerged as one of the most divisive and critical issues of our times. For many liberal democracies of Europe that have considered themselves nation-states for many centuries, the pluralization and diversification of the population pose special challenges and creates systemic as well as lived crises. Yet the integration of migrants and their access to political voice and citizenship is fundamental if democracies are to avoid the tyranny of the rule of the few over the many. In the lecture it will be argued that the normative logic of democracies requires that the political voice and participation of migrants to the polity is enabled.
The Johan Skytte Prize in Political Science
The Skytte Prize in Political Science is regarded as one of the most prestigious awards in political science in the world. Previous laureates include Elinor Ostrom, Robert Dahl, and Jürgen Habermas.
The prize is awarded annually by the Skytte Foundation to the individual or individuals who have produced “the most outstanding research” in political science. It consists of a monetary award of 500,000 SEK and a medal, funded by the donation established in 1622 by Privy Councillor Johan Skytte for a professorship in eloquence and government at Uppsala University.