Viadrina Institute for European Studies (IFES)
Conference of the Research section "Comparative Politics" of the German Political Science Association (DVPW)
Political Climate Change:
Regional, European and Global Comparative Perspectives
22-23 September 2022
European University Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder)
The bi-annual conference of the Section Comparative Politics of the German Political Science Association (DVPW) will be held at the European University Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder) from 22-23 September 2022.
What appeared like an unlikely scenario twenty or more years ago has become a fact: in Europe and beyond, the liberal democratic order and its value system are under attack at various levels. We witness political struggles dealing with global and politically infectious problems such as climate change, the financial crisis or, more recently, the Covid crisis. Moreover, the Russian invasion of Ukraine is not just a regional war but an assault on the entire international order and the democratic world. These events disclose not only political conflicts within and between states and societies but also suggest that at least some democratic arrangements and processes are ill-suited to tackle these challenges; already, calls for an eco-dictatorship are being issued. This occurs within a changed political climate, in which extremist parties and movements are on the rise, the (strategic) use of misinformation sharpens polarization and governments increasingly rely on illiberal measures as a means of control. Even in established democracies, we are confronted with the emergence of post-truth regimes, in which “truthiness”, “fake news”, and “alternative facts” infiltrate political discourse and blur the lines between knowledge and beliefs, fact and fiction.
In another vein, many governments have begun to use modern communication technologies and AI to monitor citizens, control public life, and collect data on the population and visitors alike all in the name of enhancing security against crime and terrorism. Again, this development concerns not only authoritarian regimes, but also developed democracies. These changes are accompanied by a growing frustration, alienation, and anger of average citizens vis-à-vis their governments and governmental systems, thus fueling the authoritarian temptations. Simultaneously, global (ecological) protest movements not only manifest anger and frustration but also demonstrate the politicization of parts of the allegedly disenchanted youth and other segments of the populace.
From a comparative politics perspective such “political climate change” or even: manifold climate changes pose several critical questions, both theoretically and empirically. We want to bring together scholars who examine these changes and their consequences in a comparative fashion and invite regional, European, and global perspectives. The Section welcomes different theoretical and conceptual approaches, whether novel or well-established, quantitative or qualitative, in order to improve our understanding of the various facets of large-scale political changes in Europe and beyond. It is open to various sub-disciplines, with different methodological and empirical approaches and with scopes ranging from single case studies to large comparative papers.
Online participation
If you wish to follow the presentations online, please click on the link below.
Track 1: Democracy + Democracy, Populism and Disinformation (both days)
https://europa-uni-de.zoom.us/j/87026510088?pwd=MzVxVlArTlR1NUIrRHpaenZmU2kxZz09
Track 2: Emerging Challenges + Democratic Resilience (both days)
https://europa-uni-de.zoom.us/j/83733349144?pwd=Y0FwcXdqeU1DTWw2dzE3RzQ2Z1RRdz09
In cooperation with:
DVPW Standing Group "Demokratieforschung", DVPW Standing Group "Vergleichende Diktatur- und Extremismusforschung"
Local organizers: Timm Beichelt, Michael Minkenberg, Sonja Priebus, Zsuzsanna Végh
Conference languages: English and German
For questions and more information contact us via email: political-climate-change@europa-uni.de.
Follow the conference on Twitter @Viadrina_IFES. Hashtag #DVPWVP22.
European University Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder)
Große Scharrnstraße 59
15230 Frankfurt (Oder)
Arrival by plane and train
From Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg - Willy Brandt (BER): from the airport, take the Airport Express (FEX) to Central Station (Hauptbahnhof) or the RE7 to Ostkreuz. At the Central Station (FEX) or Ostkreuz (RE7), change to the RE1 to Frankfurt (Oder).
From Zoologischer Garten, Central Station, Friedrichstraße, Alexanderplatz, Ostkreuz: take the RE1 to Frankfurt (Oder).
From the train station in Frankfurt (Oder) to the university campus: walk (10 min) or take the tram number 2 and 3 or bus number 983.
City Park Hotel
Lindenstraße 12, 15230 Frankfurt (Oder)
Hotel located close to Viadrina Campus with special prices for conference guests
Single room: 61€, Double room (single occupancy): 71€
Hotel Zur Alten Oder
Fischerstraße 32, 15230 Frankfurt (Oder)
Hotel located close to Frankfurt (Oder) train station
Single room: 69€, Double room (single occupancy): 79€
City Residence Hotel
Bahnhofsstraße 11, 15230 Frankfurt (Oder)
Hotel located close to Frankfurt (Oder) train station
Single room: 62€, Double room (single occupancy): 72€
