Fascism back in Europe?
An International Marxist Conference
“Fascism is the strongest, most concentrated, and classic expression of the world bourgeoisie’s general offensive at this time.”
– Clara Zetkin, 1923
When: 20 – 22 June 2025
Where: Franz-Mehring-Platz 1, 10243 Berlin
Description
We are experiencing a world in upheaval. 80 years after the victory over German fascism in Europe, all signs around the world point to another major war. It seems as if the rise of fascist forces on the one hand and a deepening political and economic crisis on the other are increasingly converging. Fascism is in the air.
More than 100 years ago, a comprehensive debate began among Marxists to understand the phenomenon of fascism. In 2025, we will host a scientific-political conference to build on these debates, understand the controversies such as the relationship between liberalism and fascism up to the present day, and discuss the tendency towards fascism in concrete terms with Marxists, historians, and anti-fascists from across Europe.
The conference will be hosted by Vijay Prashad, director of the Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research.
Preliminary programme
The conference will be divided into three blocks to create a common thread of discussion.
Block I – The Marxist debate on fascism and the relationship between imperialist crisis and fascism
We will open the conference by revisiting Marxist debates of the 20th century on the nature of fascism. What did they identify as the essence of fascism? What characteristics were agreed upon and what were points of dissension? How has this debate developed up to the present day?
Furthermore, we want to examine the relationship between economic crisis and fascism, both historically and currently. What are the similarities and differences between today and the situation of the 1920s? Is there a connection between capitalist crisis, neoliberalism and fascism?
- Utsa Patnaik (India)
- Ankica Čakardić (Croatia)
- Jürgen Lloyd (Germany)
- Clara E. Matteis (USA)
- Luciano Canfora (Italy, enquired)
Block II – Fascist parties and movements in Eastern and Western Europe today
The next step will turn to contemporary right-wing and fascist parties, organizations, and movements across Europe. How did these structures develop, which sections of society support them politically and financially and which interests do they express? We will also address the question of how fascist movements in core industrialised countries differ from those in the European periphery. Are fascist parties actively being built up and supported to realize imperialist interests? What is the relationship between fascist forces and liberal and conservative parties and actors?
- Florian Nowicki (Poland)
- Salvatore Prinzi (Italy, enquired)
- Vladimir Bortun (Romania)
- Sopo Japaridze (Georgia)
- Maurizio Coppola (Italy)
- Susann Witt-Stahl (Germany)
- And others.
Block III – Anti-fascism: caught between an ideology of integration and progressive practice
Finally, we will assess the nature of the anti-fascist struggle today. Liberal, social-democratic, and conservative parties have been conjuring up broad civic alliances in the name of preventing the far-right. Yet these alliances have failed to push back against the growing influence of the Right. When and how does anti-fascism turn into a ruling ideology? What remains in Europe today of the historical traditions of the anti-fascist popular front and partisan movements? What are the links between the working-class movement and anti-fascism?
- Ulrich Schneider (Germany)
- Aleksandar Djenic (Serbia)
- And others.