"To politicize or ban? Political and legal perspectives on dealing with right-wing extremism" is the topic of a public discussion on Tuesday, December 2, 4:15 p.m., at the European University Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder) in the Logensaal, Logenstraße 11.
Political scientist Prof. Dr. Michael Minkenberg and constitutional law expert Prof. Dr. Stefan Haack (Viadrina) will be in conversation with René Wilke, Minister of the Interior and for Municipal Affairs of the State of Brandenburg and former Lord Mayor of Frankfurt (Oder). As part of the lecture series "How to deal with right-wing extremism?", they will discuss legal and political options for dealing with right-wing extremism. The event will shed light on the possibilities and limits of state and civil society action from an academic and political-practical perspective.
About the person
René Wilke (SPD) is Minister of the Interior and for Municipal Affairs in the state of Brandenburg. Born in Frankfurt, he was a member of the Left Party in the Brandenburg state parliament from 2014 to 2018. René Wilke continued his political career as Lord Mayor of the city of Frankfurt (Oder) from 2018 to 2025. He left the Left Party in June 2024 and remained non-party until November of this year before joining the SPD.
As Minister of the Interior and for Municipal Affairs in the state of Brandenburg, Wilke is responsible for the political management and coordination of measures to combat political extremism and for internal security, among other things.
The lecture series
In the lecture series "How to deal with right-wing extremism?", academics and experts from various fields of practice will address the social and political challenges posed by the rise of far-right and right-wing populist movements in the winter semester 2025/26. The series is intended to provide orientation on a scientific basis, open up spaces for discussion and strengthen the network of experts and actors who deal with right-wing extremism in academia and practice.
When and where?
Tuesday, December 2, 2025 | 4.15 p.m.
European University Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder) in the Logensaal
Logenstraße 11, 15230 Frankfurt (Oder)
Further dates
December 9, 2025 | 4.15 p.m.
"Right-wing extremist content in the (social) media – dissemination and effective counter-strategies" with Dr. Teresa Völker (Berlin Social Science Center). Teresa Völker (Social Science Research Center Berlin (WZB))
January 6, 2026 | 4.15 p.m.
"Strategies against right-wing extremism – experiences from Brandenburg" with Prof. Dr. Heike Radvan (University of Tübingen)
January 20, 2026 | 4.15 p.m. "Why do so many people in eastern Germany vote for the AfD?" with Prof. Dr. Detlef Pollack (University of Münster)
January 27, 2026 | 4.15 p.m.
Workshop discussions on dealing with right-wing extremism in Frankfurt (Oder) and the region.
More info
Further information on the lecture series can be found at
www.kuwi.europa-uni.de/de/ringvorlesung-rechtsextremismus
The lecture series is an initiative of the Faculty of Cultural Studies and the Institute for Conflict Management at Viadrina; Prof. Dr. Timm Beichelt, Dr. Christian Hochmuth, Dr. Oliver Kossack and Prof. Dr. Matthias Schloßberger are responsible for the program.