Civil Society and Political Conflict

The lecture series “Civil Society and Political Conflict” focuses on central transformations in the structure and dynamics of political conflict and its impact on civil society. The series builds on the assumption that, due to the rise of new cleavages, the structural basis of politics has been radically changing. Emerging divides between integration and demarcation cut across traditional categorizations, relativizing and partly even reinforcing traditional conflicts. During such restructuring of political conflict, not only new issues, such as immigration, Europe, or climate change, have become the focus of political debate. We also witness a fundamental change in the landscape and dynamics of political mobilization and organization. These new landscapes of contentious politics and their consequences are dealt with in the lecture series, opening an integrative perspective on the dynamics of conflict and cooperation in civil society.

Civil Society against Democracy: Organizational Bases of the Populist Counterrevolution in Poland
Grzegorz Ekiert, Harvard University

Cancelled due to Corona virus restrictions

The Poor’s Struggle for Political Incorporation in Latin America
Federico M. Rossi, National University of San Martín, Buenos Aires

The Reshaping of West European Party Politics
Christoffer Green-Pedersen, Aarhus University

Protest in der longue durée: Geschichtswissenschaft und politische Soziologie im Dialog
Diskussion mit Philipp Gassert und Dieter Rucht

Trade Unions and the Politics of Inequality
Jonas Pontusson, University of Geneva

Rethinking social policy conflict as politics of priorities: Implications for party competition and welfare state reform
Silja Häusermann, University of Zurich

European Politics in the Shadow of the Great Recession
Hanspeter Kriesi, European University Institute, Florence

Building Bridges: Civil Society and Social Movement Theories in Times of Crisis
Donatella della Porta, Scuola Normale Superiore Florence