Workshops • University of Passau

Moral Panics, Communication Networks and Polarization

Logo of PICAIS, Fritz-Thyssen-Stiftung und Universität Passau

About the Workshop

Over two days in February (20–21 February, 2026), Dr. Melanie Radue, together with the Chair of Development Politics, convened scholars at the University of Passau for the International Interdisciplinary Workshop “Moral Panics, Communication Networks and Polarization.” The workshop was jointly funded by PICAIS and the Fritz-Thyssen-Stiftung.

Left to right: Anna-Sophie Flesch, Laura Behrmann, David Borukhson, Marta Kozlowska, Salome Kandelaki, Gayathry Venkiteswaran, Melanie Radue, Valéria Zimba, Boris Nieswand, Ülker Sözen, Min Htin Kyaw Lat, Wolfram Schaffar, Barbara Pasamonik, Bancharat Polpila.

What was Discussed?

At the workshop „Moral Panics, Communication Networks and Polarization” we had two days of intense discussions and insightful exchange with scholars from different regions and from different academic backgrounds.

What made this workshop truly valuable was its genuine interdisciplinary exchange. Bringing together perspectives from, e.g. communication studies, political science, and sociology showed once again that polarization is not a single-dimensional phenomenon — it unfolds through communication networks, political mobilization, media framing, and broader social dynamics.

The discussions were critical, comparative, and methodologically rich. The diversity of regional expertise — spanning Germany, Georgia, Turkey, Poland, Malaysia, Thailand and other contexts in Europe and Southeast Asia — challenged assumptions and sharpened analytical approaches.

The conversations with all participants highlighted how essential multi-perspectivity is when studying moral panics and contemporary polarization. The workshop did not just connect disciplines — it created a shared space for critical reflection, new collaborations, and fresh research ideas moving forward.

Participants and Program

This diverse group of scholars contributed to a rich interdisciplinary and comparative exchange across regions and methodological approaches:

Laura Behrmann – University of Wuppertal, David Borukhson – FZI Forschungszentrum Informatik / Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Salome Kandelaki – New Vision University, Marta Kozlowska – Universität der Bundeswehr München, Min Htin Kyaw Lat – University of Passau, Timo Lenk – TU Dortmund University, Boris Nieswand – University of Tübingen, Barbara Pasamonik – Maria Grzegorzewska University, BancharatPolpila– University of Passau, Melanie Radue – University of Passau, Wolfram Schaffar – University of Passau, Ülker Sözen – IRGAC, University of Passau, Gayathry Venkiteswaran – University of Nottingham Malaysia, Valéria Zimba – University of Passau

Program Workshop Moral Panics, Communication Networks and Polarization