June 10, 2024 | CTV News via UVic News
Amidst the aftermath of the recent European Parliament elections, Oliver Schmidtke, Director of the Centre for Global Studies at the University of Victoria, analyzes the rising wave of right-wing parties across Europe. From Italy to France and Germany, significant shifts towards the right have emerged, fueled by various crises and widespread discontent with governance. Schmidtke highlights a growing divide between political elites and the public, triggering voter frustration and a fervent rejection of the status quo. As Europe braces for a politically charged summer, marked by pivotal elections in France and the UK, alongside the specter of the Olympics, anticipation mounts for a season of unprecedented upheaval. Despite prevailing expectations of a rightward shift, the scale of political tumult, from potential snap elections in France to looming coalition challenges in Germany, has caught many observers off guard, underscoring the volatile and unpredictable nature of contemporary European politics.
In addition to his role at the Centre for Global Studies, Schmidtke is a professor of Political Science and History at the University of Victoria. He specializes in comparative European politics, European integration, migration, integration, ethnic conflict, and the role of identities and collective memory in societies. He has held the Jean Monnet Chair in European History and Politics and has been a visiting scholar at several prestigious institutions. Schmidtke has led various research projects, including the migration research group for the Canada-Europe Transatlantic Dialogue project. His recent work focuses on the link between the resurgence of (right-wing) populism and the state of liberal democracy.
Want to dig into Oliver Schmidtke’s research? Head over to UVicSpace, the University of Victoria’s research repository. You’ll find his work on European politics, migration, and more.
