We cordially invite you to the joint conference of Friedrich Ebert Stiftung and Policy Solutions entitled ’Is Populism the new Zeitgeist?’. The conference aims to provide an in-depth investigation on the causes of rising populism and its implications on mainstream politics in Hungary and Europe.

Following an overview of the state of populist parties in Europe in 2015, the two panels will cover many aspects of the challenge of populism. First, the Hungarian context will be analysed, with a special focus on whether it is possible to win elections without populism in Hungary. Second, we will investigate the causes of populism in Eastern Europe. Third, the programmatic contagion by populist parties in Western Europe will be discussed. Fourth, the interaction between populism and mainstream politics, and why politics and democracy need to change will be also covered.

Date and time of the event: 22 October 2015 (Thursday), 10:00-14:00

Venue: Kossuth Klub (1088 Budapest, Múzeum utca 7.)

Programme:

10:00 – 10:10 – Opening of the conference

Jan Niklas Engels, Head of Friedrich Ebert Stiftung’s Budapest office


10:10-10:30 - Presentation of Policy Solutions' study on the state of populist parties in Europe in 2015

András Bíró-Nagy (Policy Solutions)


10:30 - 12:00 - Is it possible to win elections without populism in Hungary? (Panel discussion) – Moderator: Krisztina Bombera (ATV)

Participants:

Kornélia Magyar (Magyar Progressive Institute)

Zoltán Lakner (ELTE University)

Ágoston Mráz (Nézőpont Institute)

12:00:12:30 – Coffee break

12:30 - 14:00 - Populism and mainstream politics (Presentations and panel discussion) - Moderator: Krisztina Bombera (ATV)

12:30-12:50 – Anton Pelinka (Central European University): The causes of populism in Eastern Europe

12:50-13:10 – Matthijs Rooduijn (University of Amsterdam): Programmatic contagion by populist parties in Western Europe

13:10-13:30 – Claudia Chwalisz (Policy Network): The populist signal. Why Politics and Democracy need to change

13:30-14:00 – Panel discussion

The official languages of the conference are Hungarian and English. Translation will be provided.

Please register before 20 October 2015 at info@policysolutions.hu

We are looking forward to seeing you at the conference.