Our Motto

Every design, every idea, every transformation, no matter how urgent, is confronted with monetary issues at some point. The roots and effects of current wars,  the climate and energy crises, and the causes of social and technological injustice and poverty are closely connected to the financial markets, to profits or losses, to greed or generosity.

The motto of re:publica 2023 is therefore - blatantly and  directly in your face:

CASH

When we read that the richest ten percent of the world's population are responsible for 50% of CO2 emissions, it becomes clear that the other 90% will not stop climate change, even if they would cease to exist.

At re:publica 2023, we therefore want to follow the flow of money. Where does it come from? Where does it flow to? Where does it silt up in questionable stock markets, and where does it help to provide water for people's fields? What are governmental responsibilities in digitization? What is being privatized and why? And what could alternatives oriented towards the common good look like?

We want to dicsuss whether democracies and social welfare systems are luxuries that have fallen out of time, or if is rather the construct of the global market economy that is threatening to collapse under the consequences of the multitude of crises.

We are deliberately not talking about economic deals, investments, scale ups, business opportunities or any other euphemisms originating from the financial industry. We are addressing the issue right on, we are speaking about: CASH. (*)

We want to ask: What does CASH mean to us and how does it impact the climate emergency or the protection of human rights? We believe a different way of thinking about money is not only necessary, but also crucial to tackle the biggest challenges of our time. 

Because in every problem lies a solution, we therefore ask: "Whats the cost?" We are looking for the positive power of money, the market, trade and a profit that does not only benefit a priviledged few.

Like every motto we have had in the past, “CASH” springs not only from external impulses, but also from internal ones. The question of whether and how events like re:publica can still take place in the future is pressing. Raising the ticket prices has been a painful decision. We have to find solutions on how to stay true to our claim as an accessible conference for the digital society and continue to welcome those who are currently on a tight budget themselves. And of course, in spite of everything, we hold on to our claim to deliver the best contents, the most dazzling show and the most welcoming atmosphere.

Why are we confident that we are going to be able to pull it off? Because you all contribute to what re:publica is about and that which money cannot pay for: real interest, lived tolerance, and a lot of fun.

(*) CASH is to be understood here as a synonym for money, not as a distinction between cash and cashless forms of payment.