U-turn: 5 Years Later

Connection in times of loneliness and confusion

In 2020-2021, during the COVID crisis, UCSIA organized a series of webinars. The pandemic upended many certainties, but also offered an opportunity to draw up plans for a U-turn. We would radically change course and lay the foundations for a new social contract. Now, five years on, what has become of these intentions? Have we actually made that U-turn?

Find out more…

U-turn: 5 years later

At first sight, that does not seem to be the case. Fierce conflicts erupted (Ukraine, Gaza, Congo…), climate change claimed a record number of victims, energy prices soared, the hunt for precious raw materials intensified, extremist and populist parties consistently made significant gains in elections, and the international legal order was undermined…

We want to take a step back and assess what has been achieved five years after the promising U-turn. We do so through a specific lens: the sharply increased loneliness and the polarization, whether real or exaggerated. Our focus spans the personal sphere, key societal developments, and the international stage. What trends can we discern? Have opportunities been missed? And what hopeful signs exist that could help us build stronger connections with one another?

Keep Your Distance!

on Thursday 29 January 2026 with Erika Vlieghe (UZA) and Lindsy Desmet (KU Leuven) on the lasting impact of the COVID period.

Erika Vlieghe examines the delicate balance between public health and human contact, while Lindsy Desmet focuses on the sense of meaning and the vulnerable needs in elderly care. A dual perspective on what we have learned—and what still requires attention.

The Numbed Society

on Tuesday 24 February 2026 with Maarten Degreef (Sciensano) and Anthony Longo (Tilburg University) about the pandemic and our relationship with resources and with social media.

Maarten Degreef highlights shifts in drug use and support services, while Anthony Longo takes a sharp look at the shifting boundary between private and public in the digital age. Two perspectives on crisis, behaviour, and connectedness.

Joint Forces

on Thursday 26 March 2026, with Wouter Schepers (HIVA) and Nele Vanderhulst (Socius), discussing neighbourhood characteristics, citizens’ initiatives, and our resilience after the pandemic.

Wouter Schepers focuses on loneliness and caring neighbourhoods, Nele Vanderhulst on the power of grassroots engagement. A dual perspective on networks that connect and transform.

Reference Points for a World in Flux

on Tuesday 28 April 2026 with Koert Debeuf (VUB) and Maarten Rabaey (De Morgen) on how COVID has accelerated geopolitical tensions and the spread of information warfare.

Koert Debeuf outlines the global rise of tribalism, Maarten Rabaey examines the role and vulnerability of the media in a new struggle for power. A sharp look at leadership, truth, and a world order in flux.

Listen to the podcast Solidariteit Spreekt !

In the first season of our podcast Solidariteit Spreekt, we build up towards the lecture series U‑turn: 5 Years Later.

Journalist Linda De Win, together with experts, examined developments in solidarity, sustainability, and future thinking through the lens of the COVID period.

Discover the podcast series Solidariteit Spreekt!