Arguments against agitation? Political education in times of the "shift to the right"
It is not only since the 2024 European elections that a "shift to the right" has been diagnosed in Germany and Europe, as evidenced by the consolidation of authoritarian attitudes or the success of extreme right-wing parties. Right-wing parties also made huge gains in the last federal elections. In times like these, civic education faces major challenges as a democracy project. After the 2025 federal and local elections, the question of the possibilities and limits of political education will once again be at the center of the debate.
This specialist event brings together experts from politics, academia, civil society and political education to address the current challenges of political education in times of the "shift to the right" and to develop concrete recommendations for action.
With a keynote speech by Ruprecht Polenz
Member of the German Bundestag (1994-2013), Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (2005-2013) and President of the German Association for East European Studies
-
Overview
It is not only since the 2024 European elections that a "shift to the right" has been diagnosed in Germany and Europe, as evidenced by the consolidation of authoritarian attitudes or the success of extreme right-wing parties. However, democratic protest against the authoritarian revolt from the right is also stirring in the European public sphere in many cases: civil society has also been very active in Germany recently, and the number of critical educational programs, democracy projects and publications is evident. However, it is clear that these formats often only reach circles that are already convinced, while a genuine dialog with controversial positions rarely takes place. And despite the many educational programs on offer, an extreme right-wing core continues to grow in society.Civic education is currently facing major challenges as a democratic project. Ideologies of inequality are spreading today not only on the streets, but also in parliaments and at high speed via digital platforms. "False prophets" (Leo Löwenthal) create alternative "facts" that defy argumentative refutation. After the 2025 federal and local elections, the question of the possibilities and limits of political education is once again at the center of the debate. Examples such as attacks on memorials or democratic initiatives show how urgently a strong and effective political education is needed.
In addition, parts of society are increasingly relying on alternative "sources of truth". Social media creates new patterns of political
(Dis)information. The mechanisms of the "shift to the right" thrive on this breeding ground. The boundaries of enlightenment often run between reason and resentment: the illiberal furor of the right is aimed at emotions and not at the mind, the promotion of which should actually be the goal of any "education for maturity".
Question
The conference will address these challenges by publicly answering the following key questions:What is the contemporary diagnostic value of the talk of a "shift to the right" in Germany and Europe?
And what is the place of political education in times of authoritarian revolt by those who advocate an "illiberal Europe"?
Where are the limits of enlightenment today? And what does political education achieve today?
-
The aim of the conference is to analyze anti-democratic developments in selected European countries and to discuss experiences and possible courses of action from politics, academia, civil society and political education. The focus is on exchange, joint discussion and the development of concrete recommendations for the specialist public and those involved in political education.
Program
Wednesday, March 19, 2025
09:30-09:45
Greeting and introduction
Cemile Giousouf
Deputy President, Federal Agency for Civic Education
9:45-11:15
Opening lecture
Between reason and resentment: political education in the age of the shift to the right?
Ruprecht Polenz
Member of the Bundestag 1994-2013, Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs 2005-2013, President of the German Association for East European Studies
Discussion with
Prof. Dr. Thomas Niehr
Professor of German Linguistics, Institute of Linguistics and Communication Science, RWTH Aachen University
11:15-11:30
Coffee break
11:30-13:00
Country examples: An illiberal Europe?
France:
Jacob Ross
Research Fellow, German Council on Foreign Relations
Netherlands:
Dr. Markus Wilp
Managing Director, Centre for Dutch Studies, University of Münster
Austria:
Natascha Strobl (online)
Political scientist and journalist
Hungary:
Dr. Petra Thorbrietz
Science journalist
Moderation:
Dr. Thomas Greven
Privatdozent für Politikwissenschaft, Kennedy-Institut der FU Berlin and author and political consultant
14:00-15:30
Panel discussion
An illiberal Europe?
Katharina Nocun
Publicist, economist and political scientist
Natascha Strobl (online)
Political scientist and journalist
Richard Gebhardt
Political scientist, publicist and speaker in adult education
Prof. Dr. Stephan Trüby
Director, Institute of Fundamentals of Modern Architecture and Design
Moderation:
Dr. Petra Thorbrietz
Science journalist
15:30-15:45
Coffee break
15:45-17:00
Final discussion
The future of political education: Challenges and perspectives
Dr. Cynthia Freund-Möller
Research associate at the Institute for Democracy and Civil Society, Jena
Prof. Dr. Simon Hegelich (online)
Professor of Political Data Science at the Munich School of Public Policy
Dr. Nils C. Kumkar
Research Associate (Post Doc), SOCIUM Research Center Inequality and Social Policy, University of Bremen
Moderation:
Richard Gebhardt
Political scientist, publicist and speaker in adult education