Democracy Strikes Back

Mario Peucker is an Associate Professor at the Institute for Sustainable Industries and Liveable Cities at Victoria University (Melbourne). He has over 20 years’ experience in qualitative and quantitative research on dissent and citizenship, inclusion-exclusion dynamics and radical political movements, both in Europe and Australia. Mario has published five books, including the first academic volume on the contemporary far right in Australia (2019, Palgrave, co-edited with Debra Smith).

• Introduction.- Part I. Diagnosis: far-right susceptibilities and recruitment.- Chapter 1.The far right: political fringe - societal mainstream?.- Chapter 2. Susceptibility to the far-right appeal: structural factors and personal needs.- Chapter 3. Far-right recruitment.- Part II: Reclaiming democracy: beliefs and skills, dissent and community.- Chapter 4. Educational approaches to strengthen democratic commitment.- Chapter 5. Spaces for dissent and alternative deliberation.-Chapter 6. Civic counter-movements: the role of civil society and community.- Chapter 7. Recognition and social worth: community and meaningful work.