Are the democratic parties becoming more and more right-wing?

The lecture deals with the tendency of democratic parties to adopt the positions and discourses of right-wing populist parties. Right-wing populist parties are now represented in almost all Western European parliaments and even hold government responsibility as junior partners in some countries. These forces embody a reaction against the Western European trend towards liberal values, such as the rejection of multicultural societies, immigration and the emancipation of women and sexual, cultural and religious minorities. Although right-wing populist parties are relevant players, they do not achieve political majorities in most Western European countries. Authoritarian nationalist values remain a minority position and are shared by fewer and fewer people. These parties are therefore dependent on cooperation with democratic actors and the implementation of their agenda by them. Democratic "mainstream parties" often adopt the positions of right-wing populist parties if they believe they have no other way of stopping the loud voices on the right-wing fringe. The central thesis of the lecture is that the behavior of democratic parties can pose a greater threat to liberal-democratic values than the radical right itself. By normalizing illiberal discourse, they contribute significantly to the erosion of democratic norms. Registration required.

Course number: 251102422O