CALL FOR PAPERS 2016: The Global Rise of the Right?
Many nations have witnessed rapid change of their political landscapes in 2015--16. Some
scholars claim that we are experiencing a global rise of the right, pointing to patterns of
nativism, nationalism, securitization, militarization, terrorism scare, anti--immigration
sentiments, disillusionment with the established political parties as well as enmity towards
further economic globalization. Yet, is it appropriate to speak about a global shift towards the
right? Are these global patterns or rather Western phenomena? And is it a rise of the right, a
decline of the left, or the disappearance of the political center? How useful is the left--right
dichotomy in global contexts? Are we better off to look for socio--economic structures?
Furthermore, how do national histories, memories and established political party systems impact the
reading of the current moment? Is it (neo--)nationalism, hyper--nationalism, (neo--)authoritarianism,
a comeback of facism or just business as usual? How meaningful is the idea of the rise of the (far)
right when applied to non--Western regions? Are we constructing new orders in a “Huntington sense”
or have global and local patterns actually changed? What are the dangers of universalizing and intellectually
interlinking local right-- wing and nationalist movements? Who is excluded from this new meta--narrative
and where are powerful counter--movements?
This interdisciplinary research hub hopes to challenge the narrative of the global rise of the
(far) right by interrogating the relationship between 21st century “hyper--globalization”, global
patterns of neo--nationalism and the distinctive character of local nationalist movements. Does
“far right” automatically imply authoritarianism? What is the role of the media in the process of
identity--formation and international coalition building among nationalist movements?
We invite a diverse array of proposals from graduate students and professors of all academic
disciplines. Proposals that employ interdisciplinary and transnational methodologies are
encouraged.
Possible topics include but are not limited to:
• Hyper--nationalism and international cooperation: antinomy or window of
opportunity?
• Global networks, coalitions and goals of new right--wing (and left--wing) movements
• Roots and driving forces behind these new transnational movements
• Comparative political ideology and problems of “translation”: nationalism, neo--
nationalism, authoritarianism, hyper--nationalism, facism, totalitarianism
• Political style of (extreme) nationalism: leadership personalities, power sharing, mass
behavior, foreign policy
• Emotions and rationality in voter’s behavior and politician’s decision--making in face of
global insecurity
• Construction of the “enemy”: threat perception, prejudice, misinformation
• Political communication, mass media and discourse (e.g. discrimination against
minorities, hatred--speech)
• Nationalism and forced migration: otherness, xenophobia, racial violence, ethnic
cleansing
• Nationalism and gender, male and female leaders, male and female refugees, gendered
violence
• Nationalism and the terrorism--security nexus
• Nationalism and religion (e.g. ISIS)
• Right--wing politics and climate change
• Counter--movements to hyper/neo--nationalism: localism, cosmopolitanism, new leftist
movements
• Conflict resolution: visions for a new global order, global justice, peacemaking,
re-- balancing the local, national and global
Submission Guidelines
This conference is open to all scholars, whose research connects to the annual theme. To apply,
please submit your name, email, university, and department affiliation with your abstract of
250--300 words, and a CV by September 15th, 2016. Speakers will have 20 minutes to present their
papers, followed by a short Q&A. Unfortunately we cannot provide travel grants.
Email abstracts and any questions to: sgsresearchhub@gmail.com