Highlighted Past Event – “Fascism and Violence,” Uppsala University, 25–27 Sept. 2019

 Second ComFas Convention

“Fascism and Violence,” Uppsala University, Sweden, 25–27 September 2019

Second Convention of the International Association for Comparative Fascist Studies (COMFAS):

The Second Convention of ComFas provided a scholarly forum for a critical and interdisciplinary debate on the intricate but largely under-researched relationship between fascism and violence.

Violence has always played a central role in fascist ideology and political practices, either as a means by which to overthrow governments or to achieve national ‘rebirth’ and ‘cleansing’ through the physical removal or annihilation of political enemies. Yet there were huge differences concerning the dynamics and magnitude of violence in fascist regimes, depending on the political context in which fascists activated, came to power, and ruled. Moreover, violence has had a considerable impact on the way in which historical fascism was perceived in its own time and is understood and framed in present-day societies, ranging from mystic depictions that portray violence as a legitimate means of national defense to the efforts to downplay the role of fascism and depict fascists as defenders of the nation and tradition against the onslaught of communism.

During the three-day conference, over 62 experts from the fields of fascism and Holocaust and genocide studies discussed the ideology and practice of fascist violence, but also its legacies in present-day societies. The conference drew upon the recent “transnational turn” in fascist studies and the comparative perspectives that have dominated the field of genocide studies for three decades in order to bring the two fields closer together. Convention presentations focused on three major themes:

• Fascist ideology and violence
• Violent practice and fascism
• Legacies of fascist violence

The Convention was co-organized by the Hugo Valentin Centre (https://www.valentin.uu.se), as hosting institution, and Pasts Inc, Center for Historical Studies, Central European University, Budapest (www.pasts.ceu.edu). The conveners of the Convention were Tomislav Dulić (HVC) and Constantin Iordachi (CEU).

The event was made possible by a generous financial contribution from the Swedish Foundation for Humanities and Social Sciences.

Convention Public Events:

25 September:

09.00: Welcoming addresses by Tomislav Dulić, Uppsala University; and Constantin Iordachi, CEU Budapest and President of ComFas

09.15: Keynote by Roger Griffin, Oxford Brookes University: "Fascists and Violence"

17.15–18.45: Plenary session I: Fascist Studies and Violence

Moderator: Constantin Iordachi, CEU

Panelists:
Antonio Costa Pinto, University of Lisbon
Maria Bucur, Indiana University
Roger Griffin, Oxford Brookes University

26 September:
17.30–19.00: Plenary Session II: Genocide Studies and Fascism

Moderator: Maria Bucur, Indiana University

Panelists:
Aristotle Kallis, Keele University
Sven Reichardt, University of Konstanz
Tomislav Dulić, Uppsala University

The Program included 18 panels, one keynote speech, and two plenary debates. The conference will be held at Campus Engelska Parken, Uppsala University, Sweden. See Full Convention Program: ComFas Programme Fascism and Violence 25-27 September 2019

Previous Conventions: 

The First ComFas Convention, entitled “Comparative Fascist Studies and the Transnational Turn,” took place at the Central European University, Budapest, Hungary, on 27-29 April 2018. See the Program ComFas Convention April 27-29