Critical Theory and the New Fascism

A new fascism is on the rise worldwide. It raises the question of how this development should be interpreted. This lecture series will explore the extent to which critical theory can be helpful in answering this question. The first generation of critical theory (Adorno, Benjamin, Fromm, Horkheimer and Neumann) owes its fame in part to its analyses of the old fascism. We will examine how this and the subsequent generations of critical theory (Habermas, Honneth, and Jaeggi) are helpful in analysing the new fascism. The starting point is the assumption that an interdisciplinary approach to this phenomenon is indispensable; that is, knowledge from economics, social psychology, law, political science and cultural studies are of great importance. This lecture series on the heuristic value of critical theory regarding new fascism will focus on five questions. What are the similarities and differences between old and new fascism? To what extent does current capitalism give wings to the new capitalism? What social psychology is helpful in understanding contemporary authoritarianism? Is the new fascism consolidated by culture? How can the new fascism best be combated?

The individual lectures
1. Old and New Fascism (13 Jan)
2. Capitalism and Fascism (20 Jan)
3. Contemporary Authoritarianism (3 Feb)
4. The Cultural Embedding of New Fascism (10 Feb)
5. Antifa: Theory and Practice (24 Feb)

Rene Gabriëls, PhD
Assistant Professor of Philosophy, UM