Technology, Governance, and Social Justice | Conference at the DHub – Disseny Hub Barcelona
The Catalunya Europa Foundation is organizing, on October 14 at the DHub – Disseny Hub Barcelona, a day of reflection and debate as part of the exhibition How to Design a Revolution: The Chilean Way to Design.
Throughout the morning and afternoon, three conversations will take place. The aim is to analyze how technology has influenced public management, and what opportunities and challenges it presents for social justice and democratic quality.
This activity is part of the project promoted by the Catalunya Europa Foundation focused on the interplay between technology and democracy, which seeks to open a critical dialogue about the role of technology in political decision-making.
The debate will revolve around three historical and geographical moments: the government of Salvador Allende (1970–1973) and the experience of the Cybersyn project; the legacy of Pasqual Maragall, both during his time as Mayor of Barcelona (1982–1997) and as President of the Government of Catalonia (2003–2006); and the present and future challenges that Artificial Intelligence and major digital platforms pose for democracy.
Morning (9:30 – 13:30) Seminar and live podcast hosted by Mariola Dinarès | REGISTER HERE
9:30: Registration
9:45: Institutional welcome by Dolors Camats, Director of the Catalunya Europa Foundation
10:00 – 11:30: Technology and Democracy in Allende’s Government: The Cybersyn Experience
Raul Espejo. President of the World Organization of Systems and Cybernetics (WOSC) and Director of Syncho Research UK. A renowned expert in systems and cybernetics, he has been a professor at the University of Lincoln (United Kingdom) and a fellow of the International Academy for Systems and Cybernetic Sciences (IASCYS). He is one of the key figures in the global development of systemic and cybernetic thinking.
Carlos Senna. Academic and active researcher in the field of second-order cybernetics and social theory. He has written on democracy, participation, and creativity, exploring how cybernetic processes can influence political culture and collective projects, particularly in Latin America, including the role of Cybersyn in Chile.
Ángela Precht. Journalist working at the intersection of technology and social sciences, with extensive experience managing projects and teams at PEMB. She has led communication for the Decidim platform, Sónar+D, and In-Edit (Chile), and was curator of the technological axis of the 2022 Biennial of Thought.
11:30 – 12:00: Coffee break
12:00 – 13:30: Innovation and Good Governance: The Legacy of Pasqual Maragall
Teresa Serra i Majem. Graduate in Computer Science from the UAB and the University of Paris VIII. During Pasqual Maragall’s tenure as mayor, she was Deputy Director of the Municipal Institute of Informatics, responsible for telematic services and European projects, and Commissioner for the promotion of the Information Society.
Andreu Ulied. PhD in Civil Engineering from UPC and Master in Urban Planning from Harvard University. He was a technological affairs collaborator in the government of Pasqual Maragall (2003–2006).
Afternoon (18:00 – 19:30) Open Debate and Closing with Guided Exhibition Visit | REGISTER HERE
18:00 – 19:30: DemoàcracIA: Governance in the Present
Simona Levi. Activist, playwright, and expert in technopolitics. Founder of Xnet, she has led initiatives in transparency, digital rights, and democracy in the digital age. She is recognized for her work in defending freedom of information and democratic innovation.
David Lizoain Bennett. Director General for Economic Analysis and Foresight at the Government of Catalonia. Economist trained at Harvard and the London School of Economics.
Moderator: Mar Redondo i Justel, Head of Communication at the Catalunya Europa Foundation.
19:30 – 20:00: Guided visit to the exhibition
