A New Form of European Populism? Understanding Pegida in context

Understanding PEGIDA in Context”. The PEGIDA demonstrations in Germany have attracted a significant amount of attention in the media across Europe and beyond. In the UK, a group calling themselves PEGIDA UK have held their first gathering in Newcastle. Pegida is a phenomenon that is difficult to grasp and needs to be analysed in a wider European context. Speakers from Germany and the UK highlighted different aspects of the different forms of (right-wing) populism and its undercurrents in society. The panel and the audience among other things discussed how to react to these undercurrents.

Please find the statements of the speakers Gesine Schwan (SPD Germany), Chi Onwurah MP (Labour Party), Frank Decker (Bonn University), David Goodhart (Demos) and Claudia Chwalisz (Policy Network) below.