Societies of Change, Societies of Crisis - CEU Presidential Lecture

Leading German sociologist Steffen Mau explores the tensions shaping contemporary societies—caught between rapid change and a growing sense of crisis. At the heart of his talk “Societies of Change, Societies of Crisis? On the Contestations of the Liberal Model” is a key question: why is the liberal model, once seen as stable and widely accepted, now facing increasing pressure and public debate?

Looking at major developments such as globalization, migration, digital transformation, and economic change, Mau shows how these forces are reshaping social structures and creating new uncertainties. Not everyone experiences these changes in the same way: for some, they open up new opportunities, while for others they bring insecurity and a sense of loss. As a result, views on fairness, inclusion, and the future are becoming more divided.

Mau also highlights the new lines of conflict emerging across cultural, economic, and political spheres. Public debates are becoming more intense and emotionally charged, and trust in institutions, political leaders, and democratic processes is under strain. For many, the liberal model no longer feels like a given, but rather like something that is being questioned and renegotiated.

Steffen Mau's lecture is hosted in collaboration with Central European University as part of its 2026 Presidential Lecture Series, Excellence in Research, Teaching, and Outreach: Celebrating 35 Years of CEU. In CEU's anniversary year, Interim President and Rector Carsten Q. Schneider is convening leading thinkers and public figures in the heart of Central Europe to explore the defining issues of our time and to spark new and meaningful discussions - from democracy and inequality to climate justice, digital transformation, and cultural identity.

The CEU Presidential Lecture will be held in English.

Steffen Mau is Director at the Max Planck Institute for Political and Social Science in Göttingen and Professor of Macrosociology at Humboldt University of Berlin. He received his diploma from the Free University Berlin and his PhD from the European University Institute (EUI) in Florence. He works on social change, inequality, borders, transnationalization, European integration and new cleavages. Recent books include: The Metric Society. On the Quantification of the Social (2019, Cambridge: Polity); Sorting Machines. The re-invention of borders in the 21st century (2022, Cambridge: Polity) and Trigger Points. Inequality and Political Polarization in Contemporary Society (2026, Bristol: Bristol University Press, with Thomas Lux and Linus Westheuser). 

 Image of Steffen Mau © Benjamin Zibner/Suhrkamp Verlag