The forum moderator is Þorgerður Anna Björnsdóttir, project manager at the Confucius Institute of the University of Iceland and a member of the Akureyri Academy.

In connection with the seminar, photographs from Akureyri when the townspeople celebrated the establishment of a republic in Iceland on June 17, 1944, collected by the Akureyri Museum, will be shown.

Discussions at the symposium will take place in two seminars with the participation of academics at the University of Akureyri and the University of Iceland.

Program

At 14:00. Sigurgeir Guðjónsson, chairman of the Akureyri Academy.

At 14:10. First seminar. The Republic in historical light.

Participants:
- Guðmundur Hálfdánarson, professor of history at the University of Iceland.
-Ragnheiður Kristjánsdóttir, professor of history at the University of Iceland.
-Discussion moderator: dr. Sigrún Stefánsdóttir, part-time teacher at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences of the University of Akureyri and self-employed media researcher.

Emphasis:
What is a constitution and what is it for? What did Icelanders change in it? What is the story behind Article 26? Women's participation in changes to the constitution and what did they get through? The referendum unique to the republican institution. What did the Danes and King Kristján 10 think about the progress of things in Iceland? The great rainy day of June 17, 1944 - its value in the minds of the nation? What happened to the mountain woman at the republican festival in Þingvellir? The presidency and Sveinn Björnsson. Who was the man and was he reconciled? How was he chosen for the position? What influence did he have and what are the main changes in the office as it is today? Was the timing of the establishment of the republic correct in light of history? What does the young generation know about this turning point in the nation's history?

At 15:10. Coffee break.

At 15:45. Second seminar. Democracy and the constitution of the Icelandic Republic.

Participants:
-Eva Heiða Önnudóttir, professor of political science at the University of Iceland.
-Þorvaldur Gylfason, professor emeritus of economics at the University of Iceland.
- Moderator: Birgir Guðmundsson, professor of media and political science and dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Akureyri.

Emphasis:
What characterizes Icelandic democracy and how it has developed during the republic. At the same time, the spotlight will be directed to ideas for improving democracy and the constitution, and persistent questions will be tackled. How do we compare to the nations we want to compare ourselves to? What effect does the completely changed party system have on the government and what effect does it have on the role of the political parties? What reforms are needed to strengthen democracy? Is the Constitutional Council's proposal for a new constitution enough to ensure improvements? What about referendums or increased personal suffrage?

At 17:00. End of the session. Sigurgeir Guðjónsson, chairman of the Akureyri Academy.

All welcome!