Happy Dog Takes on the World: European Election Update - Will Populism Prevail?

With the surprising results of the Brexit Referendum and the election of Donald J. Trump as President of the United States, all eyes turn to the French and German elections to gauge the influence of populism and voter discontent in global democracies.

France, an architect of the European Union (EU) that has always prided itself on its influence in Europe, now potentially poses a great threat to the European project. The improbable, but not impossible election of Marine Le Pen, candidate for the Eurosceptic, right-wing National Front, on May 7 could spell the end of the EU. Germany’s federal elections on Sept. 24 also carry ramifications for the stability of Europe and the West, with Chancellor Angela Merkel poised to stave off Social Democratic Party challenger Martin Schultz.

Join us, the Cleveland Council on World Affairs, Global Cleveland, International Partners in Mission, and the Northeast Ohio Consortium for Middle Eastern Studies (NOCMES) for a free discussion and status report on the upcoming European elections.