Berlin/Germany
Organizers
The conference is organized by the IG Metall and the working group “Trade Union History”, part of the joint project “Contemporary Trade Union History” of the Hans-Böckler-Stiftung and the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung.
Organization committee: Knud Andresen (Hamburg), Chaja Boebel (Berlin), Marcel Bois (Hamburg), Alexandra Jaeger (Bonn), Michaela Kuhnhenne (Düsseldorf), Jörg Neuheiser (Pittsburgh)
Call for Papers
In recent years, the political ascent of far-right parties and right-wing populist movements in Europe and North America has received significant scholarly attention.
Analysts have highlighted the shifting appeal of these movements—particularly among segments of the working class—and have debated the implications for democratic institutions, social cohesion, and political culture. Important studies have shown that a complex mix of factors facilitates electoral success of the radical populist right, including a specific perception of socioeconomic change which sees traditional working-class lifestyles under threat by economic pressures, migration, and social elites whose cultural values seem far removed from the realities of “ordinary” people. However, while a growing body of research addresses the failure of traditional left-wing parties to successfully appeal to their historic working-class base, the role of trade unions and the dynamics of the workplace have remained surprisingly underexplored in explanations of far-right electoral success and cultural resonance. In particular, historic analyses of longterm trends and the roots of contemporary far-right surges are missing in the field.
This international conference seeks to address this gap by turning the spotlight onto the historical and contemporary relationships between organized labor and the far right in Europe and North America since 1945. We aim to examine how trade unions have responded—both at the institutional and grassroots levels—to far-right ideologies, parties, and movements. From official campaigns to shop-floor conflicts, and from national organizations to transnational union alliances, we seek contributions that explore a wide spectrum of union strategies, tensions, and transformations in the face of racism and xenophobia, nationalism, and right-wing extremism.We welcome proposals that address, but are not limited to, the following themes:
• National Case Studies: How have trade unions in different countries engaged with, resisted, or reacted to far-right parties and ideologies since 1945? How have historical contexts shaped their responses? To which extent were trade unions able to develop international responses to a transnational rise of the far right?
• Workplace Dynamics and Union Campaigns: We are interested in microhistorical studies examining tensions and conflicts between unionized workers and far-right activists in specific companies, industries, or regions, but we also want to look at broader (national or international) union policies, education initiatives, or political advocacy aimed at countering racism, xenophobia, and right-wing extremism.
• Gender Perspectives and Fragile Masculinities: Male working-class support plays a significant role in the electoral successes of the radical populist right, which often poses as defender of traditional family values and a heterosexual normality threatened by a push for diversity policies. How have changing gender identities and the decline of male dominance in the workplace affected the battle for the working class between labor organizations and right-wing movements?
• Migration, Solidarity, and Exclusion: Despite significant national differences, migration and cultural identity have emerged as transnational topics which are instrumentalized by right-wing nationalist movements in many countries. How have trade unions navigated the complexities of labor migration, including moments of solidarity as well as episodes of exclusion or complicity in racist and xenophobic discourse?
• Memory, Historiography, and Identity: How have unions remembered and represented their historical engagements with the far right? What role do narratives of anti-fascism, class struggle, or national sovereignty play in shaping union identities? What are legacies of early post-war attempts to (re-)built democratic societies after the devastation of World War II and the Nazi period, and how do they affect contemporary responses to challenges from right-wing populist movements?
We invite submissions from scholars in history, political science, sociology, labor studies, and related disciplines. The organizers particularly encourage contributions from early career researchers and studies focusing on underrepresented countries, industries, or perspectives. We welcome contributions from trade union members and members of work councils.
Submission Guidelines
Please send an abstract of 300–500 words and a short biographical note (max. 150 words) to Knud Andresen and Alexandra Jaeger (andresen@zeitgeschichte-hamburg.de ; alexandra.jaeger@fes.de) by 15 November 2025. The working language of the conference will be German and English. Travel and accommodation support will be available.
This conference seeks to foster a nuanced and comparative dialogue on how organized labor has grappled with the challenges posed by the far right—locally, nationally, and transnationally—since 1945. By bridging the gap between labor history and studies of right-wing populism, we aim to advance both scholarly understanding and public debate on one of the defining political questions of our time.
Link: https://www.gewerkschaftsgeschichte.de/veranstaltungstermine-68357.htm