Third Conversation | Extremism, Political Party Bans, and Protest

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Political extremism is generally understood to encompass political positions and practices at the margins of the political spectrum that move beyond the boundaries of lawful or legitimate political demands and action. These boundaries have always been fluid, and understandings of so-called “red lines” have changed over time.

As political landscapes shift across comparable Western democracies, the question of extremism is increasingly becoming a central concern of government policy.

How should a society respond to this challenge? What can be negotiated through open political disagreement, and where are legal restrictions or coercive political measures considered necessary?

These questions arise in political life as well as within universities. Moreover, in light of changes in the political landscape, extremist political positions may pose challenges of existential significance to universities themselves. This brings the question of institutional resilience into focus.

The conversation will explore these contentious issues, paying particular attention to how LMU positions itself in relation to them.