Coalition in Distress? The Rise of the Far Right in Germany and How to Contain it
Oct 02, 2023 | 4pm (PT)
Lecture at UC Berkeley (201 Philosophy Hall) | Speaker: Andrea Römmele (Hertie School)
Sponsor(s): Institute of European Studies, Goldman School of Public Policy
Fall 2023 marks the midterm of the German “traffic light coalition”, the coalition between the SPD (red), the Liberal Democrats (yellow) and the Greens. This coalition is a novelty in German history, and the call is open whether it will get a second term. After presenting a progressive reform agenda in Dec. 2021 the Russian attack on Ukraine has challenged (not only) the German government resulting in a “Zeitenwende” the country unites behind. However, transformation is not progressing, internal fights and agony characterize the Scholz administration. The support of the far right-party (AfD) is rising to record highs – critical state elections (fall 2023 in Hessen and Bavaria, fall 2024 in East Germany) will serve as a bench mark as a major test run for 2025. The talk will evaluate government performance and discuss potential scenarios for Germany (and beyond).
Andrea Römmele is Dean of Executive Education, Vice President and Professor of Communication in Politics and Civil Society at the Hertie School. Her research interests are comparative political communications, political parties and public affairs. She was Fulbright Distinguished Chair in Modern German Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara in 2012/13 and has been a visiting fellow at the Johns Hopkins University in Washington, DC, and the Australian National University in Canberra. Römmele is co-founder and Editor-in-Chief of the Journal for Political Consulting and Policy Advice and also works as a consultant to political and corporate campaigns. She received her PhD from Heidelberg University and a habilitation from the Free University of Berlin. Andrea is a constant commentator on German as well as international media outlets on German politics. In 2024, she will be Thomas Mann fellow and will spent Jan-May in Los Angeles.
If you require an accommodation for effective communication (ASL interpreting/CART captioning, alternative media formats, etc.) or information about campus mobility access features in order to fully participate in this event, please contact Ray Savord at rsavord@berkeley.edu or (510) 642-4555 with as much advance notice as possible and at least 7-10 days before the event.
Contact Info: Ray Savord, rsavord@berkeley.edu
Access Coordinator: Ray Savord, rsavord@berkeley.edu, 510-642-4555