Democracy Under Siege: Global Fascism, Populism, Illiberalism
Eighth Convention of the International Association for Comparative Fascist Studies
ComFas | ICS - ULisboa
ICS-ULisboa / Lisbon / 18-20 June 2026
The debate on the similarities and differences between fascism, authoritarianism, and populism has been present in political discourse since the first half of the twentieth century and remains highly relevant today. Over time, the discussion has grown increasingly complex, incorporating related concepts such as the radical right, neo-fascism, and populism - phenomena that have gained renewed prominence in the wake of Donald Trump’s electoral victories and the long-standing political reigns of V. Putin and V. Orban. Major media outlets such as Le Monde, NPR, New York Times, CNN, Politico, and The Guardian frequently host debates among social scientists to clarify whether Trumpism could be understood as a form of radicalization potentially leading to fascism.
In this context, historians have the challenging task of advancing a nuanced and rigorous understanding of these phenomena, offering rigorous definitions that can enrich public debate. To this end, the International Association for Comparative Fascist Studies (COMFAS) dedicates its Eighth Convention to these issues, bringing together researchers from diverse disciplinary fields, geographical contexts, and scholarly traditions. The convention aims to provide a platform for plural discussion and challenging debate, inviting contributions that range from empirical case studies to synchronic and diachronic comparisons, exploring the diffusion of non-democratic political projects from the rise of fascism to the present.
Particular attention will be given to how anti-democratic political ideas and practices have shaped contemporary political projects and social movements. By connecting these research streams spanning the last century, from 1918 to the present, the convention aims to foster a scholarly rigorous and pluri-faceted discussion, inviting multidisciplinary cross-fertilisation in the fields of history and political science, among other disciplines.
Conference papers are invited to address the following topics covering the period 1918 to the present:
- Ideology & Culture
- Nationalism & Hyper-Nationalism
- Fascist Negations (anti-socialism, anti-liberalism, anti-internationalism)
- Aestheticizing Fascism (symbols, rituals, spectacle)
- Affective Economy (mobilization through fear, resentment, pride)
- Everyday Life under Fascist and Authoritarian Regimes
- Conservative Revolution (reactionary modernism, mythic past)
- Movements, Institutions & Governance
- Corporatism & Autarky (economic order, state control)
- Repression & State Violence
- Empires under Dictatorships (imperial ambitions, domination, resistance)
- Institutional Legacies (continuities of fascism in postwar authoritarianism)
- Women and Gender
- Fascist era dictatorships
- Global & Contemporary Dimensions
- Diffusion of Radical Ideas (transnational networks, ideological borrowing)
- Sovereigntist Challenge to Liberal Democracy (anti-EU, anti-global governance)
- Authoritarian Populism & Democratic Backsliding
- State Authoritarianism & Hybrid Regimes
- Elite Transformation & Regime Change
- Contemporary Illiberalism (new forms of soft authoritarianism)
Proposals for both individual and panel sessions should be submitted between 1 November 2025 and 28 February 2026. Notification of acceptance will be announced on 15 March 2026.
Meet-the-author sessions are welcome, providing an opportunity for authors to engage with the audience in an informal discussion of their recently published books (2025 and 2026). Sessions concerning ongoing research projects are equally encouraged.
Please register proposals in the following Link:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdAfkqnfGT35TjZX205XWnr-0Q79SFoqIn4DTPnFipQXZP22Q/viewform
Conference Fee: Participants are required to pay a conference fee of 75 EUR (35 EUR for PhD students).*
* Includes ComFas membership and exemption of open access charges for articles published in Fascism: Journal of Comparative Fascist Studies.
For inquiries, contact: 8ComFas@ics.ulisboa.pt