The Hamburg Institute for Social Research (Hamburger Institut für Sozialforschung / HIS) and the Federal Agency for Civic Education (Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung / bpb), in partnership with Rutgers University (USA), cordially invite you to the international conference “Fascism And Antifascism In Our Time: Critical Investigations”. The conference will take place on 1 – 3 November 2017 at the Hamburg Institute for Social Research in Hamburg and in Lüneburg/Germany. The conference addresses scholars, practitioners of civic education, artists, and activists involved in projects dealing with fascism, antifascism, authoritarianism, and the advancement of democracy. Projects on politics and practices of remembrance are especially welcome. The conference language will be English. For participation interested persons send their CV and a motivational letter to antifascism@his-online.de. The deadline for submissions is 15 July 2017.

The spread of nationalist and authoritarian movements in Europe and around the world have prompted debates about a return of global fascism. At the same time, many countries are witnessing civil society activities opposing such movements. Politicians and activists from both camps endorse like-minded actors across borders. Do these developments suggest that we are living in a time comparable to the 1930s, when the decisive marker in national and international politics was the one between fascism and antifascism? The conference investigates the contemporary relevance of fascism and antifascism by bringing together scholarly experts on these historical movements and actors in civil society.