On May 7, 2024, The Heinrich Böll Foundation in Berlin hosted a panel discussion about the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) and its political dimension. Indeed, as unpolitical as the ESC may be on paper, it has always been political – from Nicole's "A Bit of Peace" to Netta's "Toy".

The Eurovision Song Contest is one of the largest media events in Europe, which enables different countries to participate democratically, appeals to people of all generations across borders and brings them together in real time. 37 countries will compete in this year’s edition, bringing the cultural and social diversity of Europe (and beyond) to the stage.

On the ESC stage, social issues of our times are artistically negotiated, political preferences are mirrored in its voting and, at the same time, the unifying values of participation and diversity are reflected.

At a time when human rights are in danger worldwide and democracy is also under attack in Europe, the ESC remains a dazzling parallel world of equal rights for all and European cohesion, which at the same time holds up a mirror to Europe.

Swedish Ambassador to Berlin Veronika Wand-Danielsson, Minister of State Claudia Roth, journalist Michael Begasse and Dr. Irving Wolther, among others, joined the discussion panel and debated the political dimensions of the ESC. The first semi-finals of the competition were broadcasted afterwards.

The main questions discussed during the forum were the following:

-Does the ESC stand for diversity, tolerance and cohesion or is it more of a competition between nations in which the success of a song depends more on political sympathies than on its musical quality?

-Does the visibility of queer performers help to create greater acceptance for LGBTIQ* in the world?

-What role does the ESC play in our image of Europe in times of wars, crises and the danger of increasing social polarization?

-And why does Germany (almost) always perform so poorly?

A series of analysis concerning the political dimension of Eurovision was also published on the Heinrich Böll Foundation’s website. Some of the topics examined in the articles included the Europeanization of German identity in Germany’s post-war history and its evidence in several performances at the Eurovision Song Contest; the ESC's role in Queer culture and the evolution of the ESC into a symbol of European integration amidst contradictory national and European identities.

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