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Call for Publications Theme: Right Now Subtitle: Contemporary Forms of Far-Right Populism and Fascism in the Global South Publication: Acta Academica: Critical views on society, culture and politics Date: Special Issue Deadline: 28.2.2022 __________________________________________________ Recent years have seen the global emergence of populist political formations, leading certain scholars to term our present age the “age of populism” (Krastev 2011, Nandy 2019, Ricci 2020) and some politicians, such as Hungary’s current prime minister Viktor Orbán, to proclaim that “the era of liberal democracy is over” (Santora & Bienvenu 2018). Contemporary forms of populism are characterized by ‘us’ (often ‘the people’ in an ethnic or communal sense) versus ‘them’ (usually liberal elites, the establishment, minorities, or immigrants) forms of binary thinking (Berman 2021). For some, the rise of contemporary populism inherently represents the resurgence of forms of reactionary populist nationalism, ranging from the ‘radical’ to the ‘extreme’ right, and the revitalization of forms of ideology that may be termed ‘neo-fascist’. The great challenge for contemporary democracies is that, in contrast to dictators who seize power via coups, the aforementioned political movements come to power via the ballot box (Levitsky & Ziblatt 2018). In light of the revitalization of such political formations, the South African Society for Critical Theory invites contributions to a special issue of Acta Academica on the topic of: “Contemporary Forms of Far-Right Populism and Fascism in the Global South”. This special issue invites papers that cast a critical perspective upon the political dimensions of the current proliferation of extreme forms of reactionary politics and the social conditions that gave rise, and are in the process of giving rise, to such movements. We invite explorations of the historical and theoretical roots of current forms of far-right populism and fascism (FRP/F), critical engagement with present-day problems that are resultant of their preponderance, as well as analyses of the cultural forces and tendencies that have led to, and are leading to, their contemporary ascendance. Submissions may also consider the question of whether it is possible to develop a general theory of FRP/F in contemporary society, present inquiries into the future development of FRP/F, or investigate opportunities for opposition to FRP/F in the present context. Whilst papers that offer critical analyses of any aspect of contemporary far right populism and/or fascism will be considered for publication, the guest editors particularly welcome papers that focus on such matters in relation to the Southern hemisphere. Further questions include: - How might the paradoxes inherent in reactionary politics be exposed and weaponised in order to disrupt FRP/F formations? - In what ways are contemporary forms of FRP/F the products of capitalist society? - What links FRP/F to a liberal/neo-liberal socio-economic past/present? - Is the present shift to the right in global politics related to recent crises in the capitalist socio-economic system? - Herbert Marcuse argued that three tenets linked liberalism to fascism, namely Universalism, Naturalism, and Political existentialism; to what extent do these tenets hold true of the relations between neo-liberalism and contemporary FRP/F? Specific topics may also include: - COVID and FRP/F – What effect has the COVID-19 pandemic, and governmental responses to it, had upon FRP/F movements and their popularity? Are anti-lockdown and anti-vaccination protests facilitating the propagation and mainstreaming of far-right extremist politics? - Far-Right Populism and Capitalism – Do contemporary forms of FRP/F serve to destabilise neo-liberal capitalism? Or do they rather serve to mobilise social groups threatened by the economic status quo in defence of that status quo and of the systems of production that underlie it? Do such forms of FRP/F go hand-in-hand with neoliberalism in an “authoritarian turn”? - FRP/F and Conspiracy Theories – To what extent do the political and social narratives propounded by FRP/F movements constitute a form of mythology, in that they preserve the existing social order by mystifying socio-economic conditions? What symbols/icons/myths/cultural apparatuses do FRP/F use as instruments of mass mobilisation? - What forms of critical praxis can one engage in to reverse the course of FRP/F society and actualise the progressive, liberatory forces within it? - Freedom and the Far Right – What form of (debased) liberation does FRP/F offer its supporters? What gratification does it provide? What role does the discourse of liberty play in its mass appeal? - What kind of personality is drawn to FRP/F movements? And what forms that personality? The first generation of the Frankfurt School laid particular emphasis on the role of the family as the transmitter of social norms regarding respect for and submission to authority. Does the family play a similar role in the transmission of reactionary values in contemporary society? Is there a link between reactionary rhetoric concerning the sanctity of the family, and the preservation of patriarchal structures of authority? - Beyond Tropical Fascism – Are there indigenous forms of FRP/F or do they always derive from the legacy of European settler colonialism? Is it even meaningful to apply theoretical categories derived from European history to contemporary societies outside the European sphere? Or are there universal commonalities in FRP/F thought? What is populism/far-right populism/fascism in the Global South? In what ways is each instance peculiar to its own socio-cultural circumstances? - Environment and Politics – what role does environmental discourse play in contemporary far-right rhetoric? - The analysis of fascism was a central concern of the first generation of the Frankfurt School. Do the Frankfurt School still offer us resources for the critique and comprehension of contemporary FRP/F? Or is their work outmoded? What thinkers should we draw upon to develop a contemporary understanding of FRP/F in general, and the Global South in particular? - How is FRP/F transmitted through the mass media and popular culture? And how do FRP/F movements utilise mass media and popular culture to transmit their ideology? What makes FRP/F use of social media effective? Towards which social groups is it directed? How have contemporary Information and Communication technologies (ICTs) facilitated and fostered the growth and popularity of such movements? - In contemporary politics, conservative and liberatory intentions are frequently interconnected. What anti-capitalist and utopian elements are contained in contemporary forms of FRP/F? And how might a genuine Critical Theory meet these needs in a progressive, emancipatory way? The editors welcome approaches from all aspects of Critical Theory, broadly construed. e.g. the three generations of Frankfurt School Critical Theory, Africana Critical Theory, Black Existentialism, Postcolonial Theory, De-colonial Theory, Critical Feminism, Critical Sociology, Critical Film Studies, Critical Race Theory, Critical Theory of Technology, Critical Legal Studies, Post-structuralism, Psychoanalysis, Critical Hermeneutics, Liberation Theory, Critical Pedagogy, Critical Theology, Critical Anthropology, etc. Please submit papers by the 28th February 2022 via the journal website and follow the instructions there: http://journals.ufs.ac.za/index.php/aa/about/submissions Alternatively, should you experience any difficulties with the journal’s electronic submission process, send your paper via email to: elof...@ufs.ac.za Please make sure to clearly indicate that the submission is intended for the special issue. Guidelines for authors are available from: http://journals.ufs.ac.za/index.php/aa/information/authors Please consult these guidelines before submitting. Should you have queries regarding any aspect of the special issue, please do not hesitate to contact the guest editors: Ewa Latecka Email: latec...@unizulu.ac.za Jean du Toit Email: jean.dut...@nwu.ac.za Gregory Swer Email: gregs...@gmail.com Journal website: https://journals.ufs.ac.za/index.php/aa/ __________________________________________________ InterPhil List Administration: https://interphil.polylog.org InterPhil List Archive: https://www.mail-archive.com/interphil@list.polylog.org/ __________________________________________________
