November 2 and 3, 2022
Hofstra University, Hempstead, New York
On October 28, 1922, armed fascists converged on Rome and paved the way to the establishment of a dictatorship led by Benito Mussolini, which would dominate Italy for the next 20 years. The March on Rome marked the birth of an Italian fascist regime and laid the foundation for the spread of fascist idology around the world. From the beginning, Italian fascism generated resistance. As fascist ideology developed into a global phenomenon, so too did anti-fascism. The initial phase of the conflict between fascist and anti-fascist forces climaxed in World War II with the defeat of Italian fascism, German Nazism, and Japanese militarism. Although defeated militarily in 1945, global fascism continued to find expression during the decades that followed.
As recent events have shown, fascist ideology and its attendant components--oppostion to workingclass movements, hyper-nationalism, anti-democracy, white supremacy, and xenophobia--remain a threat to democratic institutions and practices worldwide. As in the past, the rise of fascism has been met with anti-fascist opposition.
To coincide with the centennial of the March on Rome, we will hold a two-day interdisciplinary conference, Anti-fascism in the 21st Century. The purpose of this conference is not to retell stories of past anti-fascist movements, but to consider anti-fascism as a contemporary global movement with myriad forms and to explore the challenges of organizing against fascism for a new generation.
We encourage participation by activists, educators, and artists, as well as scholars. Nontraditional (i.e., nonacademic) panels and presentations in a variety of formats are welcome and enouraged.
We invite proposals on topics including but not limited to the following:
•Strategies and tactics for mobilizing and organizing against fascism
•Anti-fascism in the classroom
•Anti-fascist rhetoric
•Anti-fascist literature (books, graphic novels, etc.)
•The arts (music, dance, theater) and anti-fascism
•Global anti-fascist solidarity
•Social media and anti-fascist activism
•Anti-fascism and the question of violence
•Anti-fascism and the struggle against neoliberalism
•Working-class anti-fascism
•Historical memory and contemporary anti-fascism
•Struggles over fascist and anti-fascist monuments and memorials
The offical language of the conference is English. All presentations should last no longer than 20 minutes, including audio and visual illustrations.
DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS:
Please submit a summary of presentation (up to 500 words) along with a brief narrative biography to hofculctr@hofstra.edu by April 15, 2022.
Please note: Funds are not available for travel, accomodations, or meals. Local hotels will offer discounted rates to conference participants.
Send inquiries to conference organizers:
Mary Anne Trasciatti, Professor of Writing Studies and Rhetoric and Director of Labor Studies,
Hofstra University, mary.anne.trasciatti@hofstra.edu
Fraser Ottanelli, Professor of History, University of South Florida, ottanelli@usf.edu
Antifascism in the 21st Century will be coordinated by the Hofstra Cultural Center, 127 Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY 11549-1270, (516) 463-5669, hofculctr@hofstra.edu
Contact Info:
Mary Anne Trasciatti, Professor of Writing Studies and Rhetoric and Director of Labor Studies, Hofstra University
Fraser Ottanelli, Professor of History, University of South Florida
Contact Email: hofculctr@hofstra.edu