"Science Against Fascism" Week Launched in November

The nationwide campaign "Science Against Fascism" is set to launch events from November 16 to 20, 2026. The initiative aims to stimulate debate within academic institutions regarding the responsibility of science for societal developments, particularly in response to the rise of right-wing populism and the successes of parties like the AfD.

The campaign seeks to build networks and establish resilient structures. Organizers emphasize the importance of analyzing the root causes of current societal trends to better understand the factors contributing to the spread of fascism. This analytical work is deemed crucial for the social sciences.

The initiative addresses a perceived gap where academic and political discourse has sometimes relied on older categorizations, such as "right-wing populism" or "authoritarianism," potentially hindering a deeper examination of fascism's origins.

A prominent area of discussion involves a critical review of liberalism and property rights. Some analyses, including Eva von Redecker's book "Über den neuen Faschismus," suggest that liberalism is a contributing factor to fascism. This perspective can lead to a radicalization of the concept of "post-liberal anti-fascism," as explored in the study by Carolin Amlinger and Oliver Nachtwey on AfD's mobilization.