The discussion of universities and democracy has conventionally dealt first and foremost with the curriculum, or with the spirit of openness and tolerance which characterises the scientific inquiry. In this article I have added a discussion of the situatedness of knowledge and knowledge production, and, consequently, a discussion of the situated character of other roles of the university, including the democratic role. In the light of the regress of political parties and traditional popular movements - phenomena which seem to be true both as regards membership numbers and as regards level of activity - the role as a locally and regionally situated meeting place for a vitalisation and defence of democracy seems a promising one for the contemporary university. The article has also emphasised the links between culture, social capital ("the social fabric") in the surrounding society, and the economic growth and welfare of the city and region. With concepts such as Bildung (or education), civic competence (or civility), and culture, and I have tried to draw our attention to the actual "places of knowledge," whose importance will certainly grow in the years to come. The care, the cultivation, and the qualification of these places into supporting infrastructures for cultural life, creativity, industry, and democracy should be seen as a coherent, holistic mission. It needs recognition, and articulation, by all those who are interested in the university as a significant social factor: politicians, industry, the cultural sector, local communities, and, obviously, the academic community itself.