Professor David Owen, from the Faculty of Social and Human Sciences, has become the first academic from the University to speak at the Luxembourg Parliament.
David Owen, who is Professor of Social and Political Philosophy, was one of a group of international scholars who presented to the Parliament in March. He was chosen because of his research and publications on citizenship.
He spoke about the legal, historical and political perspectives on resident non-citizen voting rights, to an audience of politicians, NGOs, activists and academics in the Chamber of Deputies of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.
The event ‘A new horizon for democracy’, was organized by the University of Luxembourg in co-operation with the Parliament and drew speakers from France, Germany, Luxembourg and New Zealand.
Professor Owen explains the significance of the event:
“It took place as campaigning started for the 6 June referendum in Luxembourg when people will be asked to vote on whether the resident non-citizens, who make up 45% of the population, should be allowed voting rights in national elections, after ten years of residence.”
The event was designed to inform political debate. More than 100 people were present and it was also broadcast on Luxembourg’s Parliament TV channel.
You can watch the Friday afternoon session on the Parliament TV here. Professor Owen starts at 2hrs 57mins into the video.
You can find Professor Owen’s publications online below:
Transnational citizenship and the democratic state: modes of membership and voting rights
Demos problems and European Union: an exersise in contextual democratic theory