The People's Voice?

The Rise of Populism as a European Crisis - Crisis Talk in Brussels with Nicole Deitelhoff, Reinhard Bütikofer and Ulrike Guérot

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When? Wednesday, 07 June 2017, 12h30 – 14h30
Where? Representation of the State of Hessen to the EU, Rue Montoyer 21, 1000 Brussels

Right-wing populism is on the rise in many European countries. The rejection of European institutions, the critique of ‘elites’, a xenophobic rhetoric and the claim to represent the ‘authentic will of the people’ are all characteristic traits shared by the diverse populist parties and movements. Populism is marked by its simple answers to complex problems. It turns against many democratic institutions long taken for granted and stands in a clear contradiction to main pillars of representative democracy like the separation of powers, compromise and diversity. In this Crisis Talk, we will discuss what characterizes the populist movements, how their current attraction can be explained and how European institutions can react to the rise of populist movements.  

In the European Union crises have always been an important driver for change and progress. Crisis situations allow the heterogeneity of European politics to be transcended through a common perception of a situation as critical and urgent and, therefore, exemplify the need for cooperation. Is the historical experience still valid that crises lead to deeper integration? The lunch lecture series Crisis Talks, organized by the Leibniz Research Alliance Crises in a Globalized World, addresses how the European Union deals with crises and what we have learned from former crises situations.

Welcome
Friedrich von Heusinger, Director of the Representation of the State of Hessen to the EU
Rebecca Schmidt, Cluster of Excellence “The Formation of Normative Orders”

Keynote
Prof Dr Nicole Deitelhoff, Peace Research Institute Frankfurt

Panel Discussion
Prof Dr Nicole Deitelhoff
Reinhard Bütikofer, Member of the European Parliament
Prof Dr Ulrike Guérot, European Democracy Lab / Danube University Krems

Moderator
Ralph Sina, Head of WDR/NDR-Radiostudio Brussels

A joint event by The Minister for Federal and European Affairs of the State of Hessen Lucia Puttrich and the Leibniz Research Alliance “Crises in a Globalised World” in cooperation with the Cluster of Excellence “The Formation of Normative Orders”.

Registration for the event via E-Mail is required.