12. Roundtable: Right-wing Extremism and Club Culture
At the latest with the publication of the Correctiv investigation in January, it has once again become abundantly clear just how real right-wing extremism is at the heart of our society and how urgent it is for civil society to engage with this reality continuously and consistently. We must also observe that right-wing extremism is becoming more prevalent within club culture. Club spaces take on particular significance in this context, as they are precisely the places where collective encounters, social cohesion, free expression, and diversity thrive. This makes us all the more concerned when right-wing-friendly or far-right tendencies infiltrate these spaces. In particular, the potential and actual impacts on the well-being and safety of marginalized visitors are a cause for great concern and undermine the cultural integrity and inclusivity of our spaces. We invite you to shed light on and analyze this current social landscape and to exchange ideas on concrete strategies and measures to actively counter right-wing extremism in club culture.
Wednesday, April 10, 2024, 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Location: Berlin
The exact address will be provided after successful registration.
Far-right ideologies in club culture not only threaten human rights and the values of inclusion and diversity, but also create fear and insecurity that spoil the club experience and the club culture environment for many. Right-wing extremism in club culture can manifest itself in various and often ambiguous forms, whether through right-wing extremist events in cultural venues, right-wing structures at club doors, bookings of artists from the right-wing extremist spectrum, or through right-wing symbolism at events. The current “new complexity” of the far-right scene is increasingly amplifying these uncertainties and making concrete and consistent action more difficult. There is often a lack of knowledge, awareness, and clear processes for dealing appropriately with far-right developments, incidents, and reports.
Precisely because clubs and club-culture events can foster community and a sense of belonging, it is all the more important that we actively protect these spaces, advocate for the safest possible environments, and be willing to reflect and learn together.
While it is a dystopian and unacceptable reality that right-wing extremism is on the rise in all sectors of society, the problem remains complex and requires thorough analysis as well as concrete strategies for action. That is why we would like to engage deeply with this topic during this roundtable. Following thematic presentations on various aspects of right-wing extremism in club culture—including an introduction to contemporary right-wing extremism, the identification of right-wing extremist symbols in clubs, and strategies for addressing right-wing extremism and right-wing violence—we would like to ask ourselves the following questions:
→ How do we deal with programs, symbols, and behaviors associated with far-right groups and collectives?
→ What preventive measures can we take as clubs and collectives?
→ How can we reflect on structures, support one another, and learn together?
→ What values should be enshrined in a shared code of values for club culture in order to counteract far-right ideologies?
→ What strategies can be used in public relations and communications to raise awareness of the issue of right-wing extremism in club culture and to support measures to address it?
INPUTS
Mobile Counseling Against the Far Right:
An Introduction to Contemporary Far-Right Extremism
Straight Thinking:
Far-right extremism in club culture
Access e.V.:
Recognizing far-right symbols in the club and at the door
TBD:
Strategies for addressing and protecting those affected by right-wing extremism and right-wing violence
Mobile Counseling Against the Far Right:
Recommendations for Dealing with Far-Right Extremism & Violence
REGISTRATION
Registration via: awareness@clubcommission.de
To complete your registration, we need the following information: name, club/group/organization, role, email address, and your language(s)
