Annika Brockschmidt: The religious right in the USA

The religious right in the USA has been shaping political debates, social conflicts and democratic institutions for decades - far beyond the United States.

How did evangelical and nationalist movements develop into one of the most influential political forces of our time? Which historical lines extend into current cultural struggles and authoritarian tendencies? And what can we learn from this for democratic societies in Europe?

Journalist and author Annika Brockschmidt will address these questions on Thursday, 21 May 2026, at 18:30 in the Audimax of the University of Würzburg at Sanderring 2 (in German language). If you would like to attend, please register by emailing gsik@uni-wuerzburg.de.

An evening about religion, power and the political conflicts of the present day

The evening will focus on the historical development of the religious right in the USA: from its ideological origins to its strategic alliance with conservative political forces and its current influence on the media, society and the understanding of democracy. Brockschmidt shows how religious nationalism has systematically built up political power over decades - and why its narratives are still effective internationally today.

Annika Brockschmidt is considered one of the most distinguished German-speaking experts on US politics, evangelical nationalism and right-wing movements. With analytical acuity, she places current developments in larger social contexts from a historical perspective and visualises how closely questions of religion, power and democracy are interwoven.

Lecture series focuses on democracy

The lecture is part of the lecture series "Under Pressure. On democracy, trust and the public sphere". The series invites people to analyse and discuss key challenges of our time.

The series was launched by a cross-faculty initiative consisting of representatives from university and faculty management and various status groups. The aim is to raise awareness of the topic of democracy within and outside the university. The series is organised by the "Global Systems and Intercultural Competence" (GSiK) programme.

Further information on the series of events can be found on the GSiK programme website.

About GSiK

GSiK is an interdisciplinary programme at the University of Würzburg that prepares students for the challenges of a globalised world. In interdisciplinary courses, GSiK teaches skills in dealing with cultural diversity, social discrimination and global contexts. The aim is to create a deeper understanding of living together in a complex society through (self-)reflection and practical relevance and to develop the skills to shape society responsibly and sustainably.

Contact

Carina Odenbreit, University of Würzburg: Global Systems and Intercultural Competence (GSiK), T +49 931 31-88070, gsik@uni-wuerzburg.de