Speaker on Democracy, Trust, and Expertise

Eri Bertsou is a voice in the world of political science and democracy. As an Assistant Professor at the University of St. Gallen, Switzerland, Eri’s expertise spans the critical challenges facing modern democracies. Her talks illuminate key themes such as:

1. Trust: What is it? Why do we need it to function? How is it broken and how can it be regained? Trust is necessary in every society, business, political community and interpersonal relationship we experience, and yet, we often get it wrong.
2. Democracy: How do people think about democracy worldwide? What are the key challenges to democratic stability and how can we understand surges in populist politics, radical right and the retreat of support for democratic checks and balances? Are citizens truly turning their back to democracy?
3. Expertise : How do people decide who is an expert, and what expert recommendations they ought to trust? Do people seek leaders who poses expertise? Why do some people respond to crises and global challenges by “doing their own research”, while others embrace scientific expertise?
4. Decision-making: How do we make decisions under conditions of uncertainty? What are the most common pitfalls? How can we convince others to support us when it comes to collective decision-making. As hard as it is to make decisions for one’s own life, collective decision-making that takes place in businesses, communities and supranational politics is even more challenging to navigate.

With her research, including the “Varieties of Expertise” project, Eri unpacks how expertise can shape the future of governance in ways that resonate deeply with audiences. Eri’s ability to bridge academic insight with real-world relevance makes her an ideal speaker for conferences, panels, and organisations eager to understand the evolving relationship between citizens and political systems. Prepare to be inspired, challenged, and equipped with fresh perspectives on the forces shaping our democracies.