Course Syllabus

Image: Iminuesa (Wikimedia Commons).

Introduction to the topic

This research project seeks to analyse alternative political movements’ international agenda and rhetoric in Germany, Poland and Hungary. Alternative political movements in Europe have been a phenomenon affecting countries with both established and relatively fresh democratic institutions. Their rise has been exponential over the last 20 years due to such developments as the global economic crisis, increased migration pressure, growing wealth disproportion and fear of new social and cultural phenomena. There are, however, also country- and region-specific reasons for the rise of such movements, rooted in history, culture and political institutions.

Research Project Description

In pursuing this research, we will focus on how alternative political movements in Germany, Poland, and Hungary articulate their international agenda and rhetoric. It will also look at the United States as a transatlantic reference point and Denmark as a country where mainstream political parties have managed to keep their contestants at bay, albeit at a cost. We will embark on understanding how such process was possible.

In all of these countries, such movements have sought to challenge established political practices. In Germany, new actors on the federal political scene emerged largely from the long-term pains of incorporation of the German Democratic Republic by the Federal Republic of Germany, often euphemistically referred to as unification. In Poland or Hungary, the transition from communism and centrally planned economy to democracy and free market, the latter based on Washington Consensus policies, left millions of people bitter, making them turn their eyes to alternative narratives. In the U.S., they contribute to high polarization levels, threatening the checks and balances system and other governance practices forged across more than 250 years.

As part of our research activities, we will also look at broader inspirations for alternative movements in the mentioned countries, provided by external actors, such as Russia with its so-called neo conservative ideology. Conceived to cement the oligarcho-kleptocratic system, it became an important tool in Russia’s international agenda and has resonated among alternative political movements in many a country.

The project will employ a cross-disciplinary approach, linking political studies, cultural studies and sociology with memory studies, history and media studies.

As the research project progresses, there will be opportunities to publish the results in New Eastern Europe bimonthly Exceptionally dedicated and engaged students may be offered co-authorship, as determined by Miłosz J. Cordes.

Learning Objectives

The primary objective is for you to experience the world of research and gain skills that will prepare you for any future career you choose to pursue. By the end of the term, you will grasp the complexities of the research project and have made your own contribution to the project. You will have learned to communicate ideas and findings, both orally and in writing, to colleagues within your particular discipline, as well as peers from other disciplines.

Research Mentor

Roles & Responsibilities of the Research Assistant 

You are expected to spend at least 10 hours per week on the project. The workload
may vary over the semester. If you are travelling to do field research in a different
location, additional time may be required.
As a research assistant, you will engage in some or all of the following:
1. Participate in weekly meetings with your research mentor at a time set collectively at the beginning of the term.
2. Participate in a research orientation at the beginning of the semester 
3. Participate in two research workshops during the semester.
4. Write an assessment of your own strengths and weaknesses in the research
process at the beginning of the semester. Revisit at the end of the semester as part of an evaluation of your own participation in, and learning from, the research project.
5. Keep a research journal and submit it in person or via email every week (or another specified interval) to your research mentor, describing the activities of the week, and outlining goals for the following week.
6. Conduct literature reviews.
7. Participate in carrying out the research project. This may include: familiarizing yourself with core concepts, prototyping, design testing, preliminary user studies. The specific responsibilities may vary depending on how the project progresses. Be prepared to contribute to tasks that may come up
during the semester. Research processes are not always predictable.
8. Present the relevance of the research and/or findings to peer(s) from other
disciplines at the DIS Festival.
9. Make a final oral and/or written presentation of the research you are involved in, depending on what is agreed with your research mentor.

Readings

(to be expanded as the project progresses)

Feffer, John. 2017. Aftershock. A Journey into Eastern Europe's Broken Dreams. London: Zed Books Ltd.

Garner, Ian. Kuzio, Taras. 2025. Russia and Modern Fascism. New Perspective on the Kremlin's War Against Ukraine. Stuttgart and Hannover: ibidem Press.

Grieder, P. 2012. The German Democratic Republic. Houndmills, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. 

Huntington, S.P. 1991. Democracy's third wave. Journal of Democracy 2.2 (1991). 12–34.

Huntington, S. P. 1996. The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order. Various editions. 

Katz, Bruce. Nowak, Jeremy. 2017. The New Localism. How Cities Can Thrive in the Age of Populism. Washington D.C.: Brookings Institution.

Lousiana Museum od Modern Art. 2023. Velvet Terrorism - Pussy Riot's Russia [Exhibition catalogue]. Humlebæk: Louisiana Museum of Modern Art.

Müller, J.-W. 2017. What is Populism? Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press.

Shekhovtsov, Anton. 2018. Russia and the Western Far Right. Tango Noir. London: Routledge.

Shekhovtsov, Anton. 2022. The Rise and Fall of a Polish Agent of the Kremlin Influence: The Case of Janusz Niedźwiecki. Berlin: European Platform for Democratic Elections.

Snyder, T. 2015. Bloodlands. Europe Between Hitler and Stalin. London: Vintage. 

Stiegtlitz, Joseph E. 2017. Globalization and Its Discontents Revisited. London: Penguin Books.

Szelényi, Zsuzsanna. 2022. Tainted Democracy. Viktor Orbán and the Subversion of Hungary. London: Hurst Publishing.

Evaluation and Grading

All research assistants are assessed on their participation, weekly status reports to the research mentor, self-evaluation and presentations to peers from other disciplines. Additional evaluation and grading depends on the individual research project and project phase and is outlined by the research mentor. It may include literature reviews, a poster presentation for an expert panel, a working paper, etc.

Participation* 10% of grade comprises attendance & active participation in the research orientation, research workshops, and DIS Festival	20%
Literature review	5%
Research Project Outline	10%
Presentation at DIS Festival	10%
Final Paper	55%
TOTAL	100%

Research Orientation & Workshops

Days and times are available in the Course Summary, below.

Field Research (if applicable)

Some research projects include field research. Expenses related to fieldwork will be
covered by a DIS travel grant. The fieldwork will be planned with the research
mentor at the beginning of the semester.

Approach to Mentoring

All DIS research mentors have been trained in mentoring students but their approach to
mentoring may differ. Mentoring is about engaging at a different - and often deeper -
level than what is typical in the class room. However, mentoring also comes with some
degree of ambiguity, which is important for you to expect. The research
mentor will work closely with you throughout the semester but part of the training is also
for you to use your own judgment to make assessments and decisions. As part of
planning your tasks and responsibilities for the semester together, the research
mentor will talk to you about her/his approach to mentoring.

Expectations of the Research Assistant

The specific expectations of the individual research assistant are agreed upon at the
beginning of the semester. In general, a research assistant is expected to take initiative,
take ownership of the project and work independently. You must also be prepared for
meetings and be willing to part take in relevant discussions. In cases where more
research assistants are involved in the same project, you will be expected to engage in
some teamwork. Carrying out a research project is not a straightforward and
predictable process. This is part of what makes it exciting. It also means that
communication is crucial. You are expected to take responsibility for communicating
about problems or issues that arise.

Data

Note that many US colleges/universities require their students who are participating in research at home or abroad to acquire Institutional Review Board approval. Examples include:

• Research involving human subjects
• If the results of any research conducted during your semester with DIS involving human subjects are to be made public or published in the US

You are responsible for confirming whether home IRB-approval is required and, if so, for seeking the approval of your home schools IRB. In addition, all research conducted in Europe must adhere to GDPR regulations, as noted above.

Disability and Resource Statement

Any student who has a need for accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact Academic Support in Copenhagen (acadsupp@dis.dk) or in Stockholm (academics@disstockholm.se), depending on the project location. In order to receive accommodations, students should inform the instructor of approved DIS accommodations within the first two weeks of classes.