A world in turmoil – who will shape tomorrow’s global order?
The Wittenstein Foundation invites you to the 13th ‘enter the future’ event
24.09.2026
The Wittenstein Foundation invites you to the 13th event in the “enter the future” series on Wednesday, 7 October 2026, at 6 pm at the TauberPhilharmonie in Weikersheim, as well as to join online via livestream. The guest speaker is Prof. Dr Herfried Münkler, Professor Emeritus of Political Theory at Humboldt University in Berlin and one of the most distinguished contemporary German political scientists and political thinkers.
The world is in flux: international power dynamics are shifting, familiar certainties are being called into question, and the rules-based international order is facing fundamental changes. What forces will shape the world of tomorrow? What role can Europe play in a world increasingly characterised by power politics? And how can the European Union maintain and expand its capacity to act?
Under the title ‘A World in Turmoil – Who Will Shape Tomorrow’s Global Order?’, Münkler examines the current changes in the international order. The focus is on the question of how the world might reorganise itself following the collapse of previous certainties – and which actors will shape this development.
Between Russia and the US
Particular attention is paid to Europe’s position. The continent is confronted with a changed security environment and, at the same time, with new demands on its own strategic capacity to act. What options does Europe have to effectively represent its own interests and values in this changed world order? And what changes would be necessary for the European Union to be able to act more strongly as an independent global actor in future?
“The question of the future global order is not an abstract question of international politics. It directly concerns the conditions under which we in Europe will live and work in the future,” says Dr Manfred Wittenstein, founder and chair of the board of trustees of the Wittenstein Foundation. “In Professor Münkler, we have secured a speaker who links historic developments with the present and can thus provide important impetus for the discussion about our future.”
Reflecting on the future through dialogue
Since 2020, the ‘enter the future’ series of events has been bringing together high-profile figures from academia, business and society to examine key questions about the future from different perspectives. For the Wittenstein Foundation, the aim is not to provide simple answers, but to offer well-founded insights, foster open exchange and encourage a willingness to question established viewpoints.
Dialogue with the audience is therefore once again at the heart of the 13th edition. Following the talk, there will be an opportunity to ask questions and contribute one’s own perspectives to the discussion. The event will be moderated by Benedikt Hofmann, editor-in-chief of MM MaschinenMarkt, who has been involved with the “enter the future” series since its very first edition.
The event will take place at the TauberPhilharmonie in Weikersheim and will also be streamed live. Attendance is free of charge.
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© Ralf U. Heinrichs
Herfried Münkler is a political scientist specialising in political theory and the history of ideas. He taught as Professor of Political Theory at the Institute of Social Sciences at Humboldt University in Berlin.
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