The presumptive Republican Presidential nominee, Donald Trump, has taken a lesson from extreme right-wing groups in Europe, it seems. He has successfully villainized refugees and undocumented migrants by fostering fear and hate among his followers.
In Europe, from Greece to Germany and Switzerland to Sweden, far-right protestors and parties have stormed the mainstream of politics as voters rebel against the influx of refugees and Muslims. The attacks in Paris and in Brussels have further given wind to the sails of these groups. Poland has closed its borders to refugees. The candidate of Austria’s far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ) received the most votes in the first round of Presidential Elections this April. France’s controversial Front National came within a hair of winning control over swathes of the country, and Germany has seen a surprising success of the new populist party on the right, “Alternative for Germany” (AfD), in three state elections in early 2016.
Can Europe avoid a massive shift to the far-right? What are the EU's answers to the ongoing refugee crisis? Will the current primary election season in the U.S. have any lasting impact on the political climate and U.S. democracy?
Please join FES and Goethe Institut for a discussion with - Mr. Charles Lanes, Washington Post (Moderator)
- Dr. Heidi Beirich, Southern Poverty Law Center, Montgomery
- Dr. Sophie Heine, Egmont Institute, Brussels
- Prof. Michael Minkenberg, Europa-Universität Viadrina, Frankfurt/Oder
- Prof. Thomas Grumke, University of Applied Sciences for Public Admin. & Management, NRW
Opening remarks and thematic introduction by Wilfried Eckstein (Goethe Institut) and Dr. Ralf Melzer (FES).
The discussion will be followed by a light reception.
Thursday, May 19th at 6:30 PM
@ Goethe-Institut - 1990 K St. NW, Suite 03 Map
