2024-09-04 04:00:03
The electoral successes of the right-wing extremist Alternative for Germany in Thuringia and Saxony have sounded alarm bells for German civil society; in Austria, its sister party the Freedom Party is in its infancy. Their platform is filled with misanthropy and attacks on democracy, and the party is flanked by right-wing extremist groups who are increasingly unabashed in spreading their views on the streets and online.
This is a highly dangerous situation in which connections must be explained, networks uncovered and answers found. This is exactly the purpose of a new series of events organized by the non-profit federal foundation COMÚN in partnership with the Vienna Volkstheater. As part of the initial four events in 2024, various aspects of right-wing extremism will be examined and discussed.
Starting September 23rd. to the “radical masses”
First of all, on September 23rd, host and COMÚN President Veronika Bohrn Mena will welcome you. German journalist Katharina Nocun writes about the Alternative for Germany, conspiracy theories and activism. Also attending the meeting were political scientist Natascha Strobl and right-wing extremism researcher Bernhard Weidinger of the Austrian Resistance Documentation Archive.
„In Austria and Germany, the shift to the right has reached dangerous levels, requiring a critical examination of far-right ideology. Through our collections, we do this and provide a space for communication. We focus on the context of conspiracy theories and stereotypes, but also to counteract them” said Veronika Bohrn Mena, President of COMÚN.
Volkstheater/Seier: “The situation is serious”
Playwright Matthias Seier of the Volkstheater in Vienna is pleased with the new play: “The situation is serious and the fight for democracy and diversity of opinion is more necessary than it has been in a long time – especially in the immediate aftermath of the National Council elections. We are therefore delighted to be hosting this new and exciting debate format in the Red Bar of the Volksbühne in addition to our regular programme!
The opening event will take place on Monday, September 23, 2024 at 8:00 pm in the Rote Bar of the Volkstheater, with 99 tickets available for €15 each. Net proceeds will be donated to the “Counter Activism” project of the COMÚN Foundation, which funds activities to counter right-wing attacks. For more information on other dates, please visit comun.at/demokratie.
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