Join the upcoming NGO Academy Keynote on »The Politics of Fear«, where Em. Prof. Dr. Ruth Wodak will explore the phenomenon of »shameless normalization«: a process through which provocation, denial, and conspiracy theories are not just tolerated but strategically deployed by political actors to shift the limits of the sayable.

Ruth Wodak will show how political discourse is increasingly shaped by tactics that deflect responsibility, invert victim-perpetrator roles, and undermine factual truth. This shift is accompanied by rising antagonism toward institutions and civil society actors that hold power to account. Drawing on examples from EU institutions and national politics, Wodak will illustrate how these rhetorical strategies contribute to a troubling »new normal«, undermining democratic values, delegitimizing dissent and closing space for civic engagement.

The event is an invitation to engage critically with these developments and their implications for European democracy.

This online keynote is free of charge.

Registration via Eventbrite: https://short.wu.ac.at/politicsoffear