Is Fascism History? York U. Symposium to Examine Resurgence of Right-Wing Extremism in Mainstream European Politics

TORONTO, October 25, 1999 -- With the far-right Freedom Party and its leader Joerg Haider placing a solid second during Austria's Oct. 3 elections, alarm has spread throughout other European nations concerned that Haider's strong showing could give their own nationalist movements a boost.

At a symposium entitled Is Fascism History? at York University, Thurs., Oct. 28 to Fri., Oct. 29, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., 10 leading scholars from across Europe, the US and Canada will examine whether concerns over the resurgence of right-wing extremism in mainstream European politics are founded, and whether the label ëfascism' is dated in today's Europe. The free symposium, sponsored by York U.'s Centre for International and Security Studies and the Canadian Centre for German and European Studies at York University, will be held at York's Keele Campus, Room 305, York Lanes.

Among the panel discussions: "What is Fascism?"; "The Rise and Fall of a Charismatic Leader ó the Case of Jean-Marie Le Pen"; The Threat of Fascism in Post-Soviet Russia"; and "Are you a Fascist if you're on the extreme right?" The symposium agenda is attached.

"Discussion of the extreme right is bedevilled by at least two questions," said York University political science Prof. Harvey Simmons, one of the symposium organizers. "First, to what extent does the term "fascist" apply to contemporary extreme and far right movements in Europe -- the Austrian Freedom Party or the Italian National Alliance? Second, if one rejects the fascist and extreme right labels, how should one characterize those movements today grouped under the headings "extreme right," far right," or "right populist," and what are the implications to democracy of these different labels? This symposium will attempt to shed light on these pressing issues," he said.

WHO:
10 leading scholars from across Europe, the US and Canada

WHAT:
Is Fascism History? York University Symposium examining resurgence of right-wing extremism in mainstream European politics

WHEN:
Thurs., Oct. 28 to Fri., Oct. 29, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

WHERE:
York University, 4700 Keele Street, Room 305, York Lanes.

The symposium is funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and the Gulbenkian Foundation.

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For more information, please call:

Prof. Harvey Simmons
Department of Political Science
York University
(416) 736-5265, at home (416) 482-9790
email: hsimmons@yorku.ca

Ken Turriff
Media Relations Officer
York University
(416) 736-2100, ext. 22086
email: kturriff@yorku.ca
YU/108/99

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IS FASCISM HISTORY?
Agenda

Thursday, October 28, 1999

9:30 a.m.
"What is Fascism?", Professor William Irvine, Department of History, York University

10:50 a.m.
"Between Success and Failure: The Radical Right at the End of the 1990s", Professor Hans-Georg Betz, Center for European Studies, New York University

2:00 p.m.
"The Freedom Party of Austria", Brigitta Patzold, Le Monde Diplomatique

3:40 p.m.
"The Rise and Fall of a Charismatic Leader ó the Case of Jean-Marie Le Pen", Professor Harvey Simmons, Department of Political Science, York University

Friday, October 29, 1999

9:00 a.m.
"The Contemporary Extreme Right in Portugal", Professor AntÛnio Costa Pinto, Instituto Superior de Ciences do Trabalho e da Empresa, Lisbon

10:10 a.m.
"The Ambiguities of the European New Right, 1968-1999", Tamir Bar-On, Doctoral Candidate, Department of Political Science, McGill University

11:20 a.m.
"The Threat of Fascism in Post-Soviet Russia", Professor Sergei Plekhanov, Department of Political Science and Post-Communist Studies Program, York University

1:30 p.m.
"Neo-Fascism in Eastern Europe", Professor Aurel Braun, Department of Political Science, University of Toronto

2:40 p.m.
"The Mythical Jew, Anti-Semitism and the Extreme Right in Post-Communist Romania", Deniz Roman, Doctoral Candidate, Department of Political Science, York University

4:10 p.m.
"Are you a Fascist if You're on the Extreme Right?", Professor Stanley Payne, Department of History, University of Wisconsin - Madison