This interdisciplinary conference featured dozens of new and established scholars from around the world whose work deals with the Right as a social, political, and/or intellectual phenomenon from the 19th century to the present day. Participants had the rare opportunity to join an expanding network of scholars who focus on right-wing studies, facilitating the development of this interdisciplinary field and future collaborations that emerge from these connections.
A keynote panel of experts, who weighed in on the current state of the far right in the U.S., Europe, and Latin America, opened the conference on Thursday, April 25, from 4:00-6:00 pm in Sibley Auditorium, Bechtel Engineering Center, UC Berkeley, followed by a reception. On Friday, April 26, from 5:00-7:00pm in 370 Dwinelle Hall, there was a film screening and discussion of “Documenting Hate: Charlottesville.”
#CRWS2019
Sponsored by: Berkeley Center for Right-Wing Studies
Co-sponsored by: Institute for the Study of Societal Issues, Haas Institute for a Fair and Inclusive Society, Institute of European Studies, Center for Latin American Studies, Department of History, Department of Gender and Women's Studies, Department of Sociology, Townsend Center for the Humanities, Southern Poverty Law Center, and Scholars Strategy Network
Thursday, April 25, 4:00-6:00 pm (followed by opening reception) THIS EVENT IS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
Keynote Panel: Perspectives on the Far-Right Insurgency: Latin America, Europe, and the U.S. - WATCH VIDEO OF THE KEYNOTE PANEL HERE.
Location: Sibley Auditorium, Bechtel Engineering Center
The Keynote Panel features experts who will weigh in on the current state of the far right in Latin America, Europe, and the U.S. They will speak to threats posed by white supremacy, misogyny, anti-Semitism, and anti-democratic/authoritarian ideologies (including acts of right-wing violence over the past year and ongoing potential threats), as well as discuss surprising elements of right-wing mobilizations that challenge the assumptions of mainstream media discourse.
Speakers:
Heidi Beirich, Intelligence Project Director, Southern Poverty Law Center
Joseph Lowndes, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Oregon
Alina Polyakova, David M. Rubenstein Fellow, Foreign Policy, The Brookings Institution
Ben Cowan, Associate Professor of History, UC San Diego
Moderator: Lawrence Rosenthal, Chair, Berkeley Center for Right-Wing Studies
Opening reception immediately following, 6:00-7:00 pm, Trefethen Terrace (Rooftop Terrace) Bechtel Engineering Center
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Friday, April 26, Morning Session I - 9:00 – 11:00 am
Panel A: Women and Gender on the Right
Location: Wildavsky Conference Room, ISSI (2538 Channing Way)
Chair: Martina Avanza, Lausanne University
Panel B: Development of the U.S. Right throughout the 20th Century
Location: Green Room, ISSI (2538 Channing Way)
Chair: Samuel Brenner, Ropes & Gray LLP, Boston
Panel C: Constructing Right-Wing Narratives: Psychology, Imagery, and Memory
Location: Center for Latin American Studies Conference Room (2334 Bowditch St.)
Chair: Gianluca Piccolino, Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies
Friday, April 26, Morning Session II – 11:15 am – 1:15 pm
Panel A: Understanding Right-Wing Mobilization Through Online Communications and Social Media Analysis
Location: Wildavsky Conference Room, ISSI (2538 Channing Way)
Chair: Maik Fielitz, Institute for Peace Research and Security Policy, University of Hamburg
Panel B: Rightist Social Movement Framing, Organization, and Institutionalization
Location: Green Room, ISSI (2538 Channing Way)
Chair: Alex DiBranco, Yale University
Panel C: Case Studies of Right-Wing Mobilization in Italy, Germany, Poland, Austria, and Serbia
Location: Center for Latin American Studies Conference Room (2334 Bowditch St.)
Chair: Safia Dahani, LaSSP/I.E.P de Toulouse
Friday Afternoon Session – 2:30 – 4:30 pm
Panel A: Right-Wing Intellectuals and Ideology: Fascists, Esotericists, Nationalists, and Populists - THIS EVENT IS NOW FULL
Location: Wildavsky Conference Room, ISSI (2538 Channing Way)
Chair: Daniel Gunnar Kressel, Columbia University
Panel B: Origins and Trajectory of “America First”
Location: Green Room, ISSI (2538 Channing Way)
Chair: Adam Jadhav, UC Berkeley
Panel C: Ethnographies of the European Far-Right: Exploring Power Relations Inside Right-Wing Political Parties (France, Germany, Italy)
Location: Center for Latin American Studies Conference Room (2334 Bowditch St.)
Chair: Lawrence Rosenthal, Berkeley Center for Right-Wing Studies
Friday, April 26, 5:00 – 7:00 pm
“Documenting Hate: Charlottesville” Film Screening and Discussion
Location: 370 Dwinelle Hall
This session will begin by screening the highly acclaimed PBS Frontline special “Documenting Hate: Charlottesville” followed by a panel discussion regarding the resurgence of white supremacist groups in the US and abroad. The panel will feature ProPublica and Frontline lead investigative journalist and producer, A.C. Thompson, along with two other panelists who will share their insights about the factors leading to this resurgence and what can be done to counter contemporary hate groups.
Speakers:
Karim Hajj, Producer, Midnight Films
Pete Simi, Associate Professor of Sociology, Chapman University
Alex DiBranco, Yale University
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Saturday, April 27, Morning Session I - 9:00 – 11:00 am
Panel A: Right-Wing Educational Discourse and Pedagogy in the U.S.
Location: Wildavsky Conference Room, ISSI (2538 Channing Way)
Chair: Dinorah Sánchez Loza, UC Berkeley
Panel B: Anti-Abortion Movements and Actors. A Dialogue Across Borders of Space and Disciplines
Location: Green Room, ISSI (2538 Channing Way)
Chair: Chelsea Ebin, Rollins College
Panel C: Explaining Support for the Right-Wing in Europe, India, and Brazil -
Location: Center for Latin American Studies Conference Room (2334 Bowditch St.)
Chair: Elizabeth McKenna, UC Berkeley
Saturday, April 27, Morning Session II – 11:15 am – 1:15 pm
Panel A: Male Supremacist Ideology and Mobilization in the Contemporary United States -
Location: Wildavsky Conference Room, ISSI (2538 Channing Way)
Chair: Alex DiBranco, Yale University
Panel B: Empowering the Radical Right: Mainstream Collaboration, Normalization, and Radicalization -
Location: Green Room, ISSI (2538 Channing Way)
Chair: Kim Twist, San Diego State University
Panel C: The New Right and Jair Bolsonaro´s Rise to Power in Brazil: Politics and Political Economy
Location: Center for Latin American Studies Conference Room (2334 Bowditch St.)
Chair: Pedro Paulo Zahluth Bastos, Universidade de Campinas
Saturday, April 27, Afternoon Session I – 2:45 – 4:45 pm
Panel A: Demographic Nationalism: Who Is “America”? -
Location: Wildavsky Conference Room, ISSI (2538 Channing Way)
Chair: Steven Gardiner, Political Research Associates
Panel B: Transnational Networks in Latin America and Europe
Location: Green Room, ISSI (2538 Channing Way)
Chair: Molly Avery, London School of Economics
Panel C: Power Struggles Over Race, Gender, and Sexuality in Brazil’s New Right
Location: Center for Latin American Studies Conference Room (2334 Bowditch St.)
Chair: Paola Bacchetta, UC Berkeley
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Airport Transport/Parking/Weather:
If you will be flying, we recommend you fly into the Oakland airport, since it is closer and ground transportation is less expensive. San Francisco is the other option (and may be cheaper to fly into than Oakland from some destinations).
For information on public transport to/from airports, click here: https://visit.berkeley.edu/directions-parking/ .
Both the San Francisco and Oakland airports have a BART connection to the Downtown Berkeley BART station, which is the closest BART station to the Berkeley campus. You can find more information here: http://www.bart.gov/
If you want to take a shared shuttle from/to the airport, we recommend BayPorter Express Airport Shuttle Service 1-415-467-1800 http://www.BayPorter.com/
If you will be driving, parking is available nearby. All-day parking is usually around $12/day (cash with exact change is usually required). The Underhill structure at Channing and Bowditch streets is the closest parking garage. More information can be found here: https://pt.berkeley.edu/parking/visitor-parking
Access to UC Berkeley’s recreational facilities is available by paying a daily fee: http://conferenceservices.berkeley.edu/summerconf_ft_recreationalfacilities.html
The weather in April can be cool and foggy in the morning, but is almost always sunny and warm (high 60s) by noon and into the afternoon. Layers are a good idea.
Housing Options:
The Graduate Hotel is the closest hotel (one block) to the Institute for the Study of Societal Issues (2538 Channing Way), where the conference will be held. The Bancroft Hotel is also nearby (two blocks) and slightly less expensive but with smaller rooms. Another option is the Berkeley City Club Hotel, which is about four blocks from the Institute. The Hotel Shattuck Plaza, in downtown Berkeley, is located near a BART station and a 15 minute walk from the Institute. A more economical option is the YMCA. It is a longer walk—about 30 minutes, but it is on a bus route that comes within one block of the Institute. Another option might be the Bay Bridge Inn Oakland, found by a participant, which is located 2 blocks from a BART station and $80/night.
Places to Eat Nearby:
We will provide a catered wine and cheese reception on the first evening of the conference, immediately following the Keynote Panel (Thursday, April 25, 6:00-7:00 pm, Trefethen Terrace (Rooftop Terrace) Bechtel Engineering Center), along with morning and afternoon coffee breaks and snacks, but lunch and dinner are on your own. There are numerous options within a short walking distance from where we will be holding the conference. Here are a few options:
Restaurants for a Quick (and Good!) Meal Nearby (among many other options)
Berkeley Thai House (has outdoor seating in case the weather is good), 2511 Channing Way, (from the Institute, cross to the other side of Channing and walk ½ block west towards Telegraph, the restaurant is on the north side of the street)
Chipotle Mexican Grill, 2311 Telegraph Ave. (from the Institute, head 1 block west on Channing, take a right onto Telegraph and walk 1 ½ blocks)
Dumpling Express, 2328 Bowditch (from the Institute, head 1 block north on Bowditch, towards campus)
Gordo Taqueria, 2404 Telegraph Ave. (from the Institute, head 1 block west on Channing to Telegraph, cross the street and take a left)
Super Duper Burgers (burgers, fries, shakes, some vegetarian options), 2355 Telegraph Ave. (from the Institute, head 1 block west on Channing to Telegraph, take a right and walk 1 block, corner of Durant and Telegraph)
Free House (near campus, burgers and salads, beer on tap, corner of Bancroft and College Ave., outdoor seating) 2700 Bancroft Way, Berkeley, CA 94704
Koja Kitchen (Korean-Japanese fusion) 2395 Telegraph Ave. (from the Institute, head 1 block west on Channing to Telegraph, take right and walk 1/4 block)
Fancier/More expensive Places - reservations recommended (These are all farm-to-table, local, Berkeley foodie places. Lots more can be found on Yelp or Chowhound.)
Gather (west side of campus) 2200 Oxford Street, Berkeley, (510) 809-0400
Venus (near Berkeley BART, seasonal California cuisine), 2327 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704, (510) 540-5950
Comal (near Berkeley BART, Mexican), 2020 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704, (510) 926-6300