Understanding and Overcoming the Appeal of Right-Wing Populism and Right-Wing Extremism.

Upcoming Dates: April 18–19, 2026, at the aisthetos Academy in Neuwied; April 26-27, 2027, at the Federal Academy in Wolfenbüttel.

The fear of the foreign is as old as humanity itself. However, what exactly is defined as “foreign” is subject to constant change.

Naturally, one first thinks of migrants, who have been at the center of political discussions for many years, particularly refugees. Conservative politicians—but especially those on the far right—essentially view them as a threat we must defend ourselves against.

But the “foreign” can also be anything else that brings about change and unsettles us, be it advancing digitalization, climate change, the COVID-19 crisis, or the demands of the LGBTQ movement.

Right-wing to far-right forces promise a world where everything can stay as it is, if only they were allowed to come to power, and this is appealing to many people: because they are overwhelmed by the changes in our society, they long for stability and simple answers to difficult social questions—which is, after all, only human.

Amid the loud cries of the warning voices and fearmongers, we unfortunately lose sight of the fact that an encounter with the unfamiliar can also be a great gain, and enables new experiences through which we can grow. Stagnation, on the other hand, inevitably leads to rigidity.

Fear of the unfamiliar appears to be a logical consequence of our ever-changing world. However, it is not the only option.

When we engage with the foreign, the question also arises of what “our own” is: Who we are, what defines us, where and with whom we feel at home?

What do we associate with “home”? Is it a place, a feeling, a piece of music, or is it people who are familiar to us… ? If we know what is important to us, what we live by, what we believe in, and what is close to our hearts, we can better understand how the foreign affects us. The foreign can be unsettling, frightening, but it can also spark curiosity and interest.

It is about ourselves and our honest reflection on our views, feelings, experiences, and attitudes. And the willingness to grow.

Using methods from dance, movement theater, visual theater, and scenic improvisation, we explore these questions. In doing so, we create a space for encountering both the familiar and the foreign, and at the same time a starting point for social and cultural work with people from diverse cultural backgrounds.

Location: aisthetos Academy, Neuwied

Participation fee: 195 euros

Registration/further information: info@aisthetos-akademie or 02631 / 8155331

Another seminar will take place at the Federal Academy in Wolfenbüttel; the date is April 26-27, 2027