Political parties are continually under pressure, due to changes in societies, technologies and politics as a whole. But at the moment, Europe is on the threshold of a new environment that is changing the face of political parties themselves. The picture has elements both optimistic (concerning the possibilities of ‘virtual’ activism) and pessimistic (concerning ‘real’ membership and stable voting). In general, parties have to transform the tools of organisation and participation to tackle...

The European project has recently reached a critical point, where a discussion on the fundamental objectives of the European Union has entered public debate. There are considerable concerns about a new Euroscepticism arising in response to recent developments, especially the Eurozone crisis, and a general feeling of malaise towards the European project from both national elites and ordinary citizens of Member States. This paper looks at how Euroscepticism can be defined, the reasons behind...

Was ist mit unseren westlichen Demokratien momentan eigentlich los? Ist der US-Präsident Donald Trump ein Vorbote für Europa? Warum schlägt die Stunde der Vereinfacher im Zuge von Flüchtlingskrise, Terrorismus und Brexit derzeit so laut und schrill? Fest steht: Die jüngsten politischen Entwicklungen machen demokratischen Multiplikatoren große Sorgen. Zu gravierend haben sich gesellschaftliche Spaltungstendenzen in die politischen Systeme eingespeist. In diesem neuen Band wird Aufklärungsar...

Right-wing populist parties have developed into a stable institution and a long-term feature of European politics. Again and again they prove themselves capable of gaining electoral success at national level. Yet right-wing populist parties rarely succeed in coming into government, and even if they actually manage it, they predominantly function only as junior partners. This paper assesses how these parties have emerged, their main characteristics and how traditional parties can respond to...

As the attacks in Norway, Munich and most recently Christchurch have shown: a new threat is now shaking liberal Western societies. Radicalized right-wing extremists – so-called lone wolves – are engaging in individually planned terror attacks.Written by an expert on terrorism and populism, this book highlights the dynamics of this new breed of terrorism. By providing in-depth insights into the biographies of individual perpetrators, it illustrates the changing profile of the typica...

Wir leben in turbulenten, hysterischen Zeiten. Für uns alle bedeutet die Revolution durch Echtzeitkommunikation eine ungeahnte Herausforderung, die herkömmliche Muster und Traditionen auf den Kopf stellt. Es schlägt die Stunde von Influencern und von YouTube-Stars. Die Covid-19-Pandemie verstärkt den globalen Wettbewerb der Nationalstaaten und Systeme. Politik einfach erklärt - Mit diesem Buch über Politik wird sinnvoll aufbereitetes Fachwissen in einer interessanten, kreativen Art vermitt...

In westlichen Demokratien häufen sich Fälle von rechtem Terrorismus. Die innere Sicherheit und das Leben von gesellschaftlichen Minderheiten und in der Öffentlichkeit stehenden Personen werden durch vielfältige Formen schwerer Gewalttaten und Terrorakte bedroht. Begründungen für solche Akte verweisen auf althergebrachten Rechtsextremismus, Rassismus, Antisemitismus oder Autoritarismus. Ebenso zeigen sich aber auch neue Erscheinungsformen, die auf Verschwörungstheorien und Ideologieversatzs...

Europe’s right-wing and national populist parties are on the upswing, even despite some recent electoral setbacks. They have entered parliaments across Europe and some parties are even participating in national governments. What is remarkable is that right-wing and national populist parties have changed their mobilisation tactics. While predominantly xenophobic in the past, right-wing populists now mobilise against further European integration – and not without success.For all acto...