Internasjonalt seminar - racism, sexism, neo-fascism: What can we do? What should we do?

The rise of the Alternative for Germany in Germany, of the Rassemblement National in France, and the re-election of Donald Trump in the US all fit into a broader pattern of a renewed nationalism that threatens liberal democratic values and social cohesion across the EU. These movements drive polarization and re-mobilize prejudices and distrust of minorities for their own political ends. The success of these parties depends on citizen support which give them electoral mandates and create a ‘new normal’ in which norms of civility, fairness, and respect are worn down. Discussions around racist stereotypes of Sami and how they create hostile public (online) environments, around the role that affirmative action with regard to gender equality should play in the public as well as private sector, as well as around duties to admit and integrate refugees fall under this umbrella.

Much has been said about the economic and political drivers of such support. Yet, it has been much less discussed which moral duties citizens have in such circumstances. Does a feeling of political powerlessness and economic vulnerability justify voting for an undemocratic party out of protest? Must we speak up when others violate established norms of respect and civility? Is active solidarity with attacked minorities and political counter-organization a duty or an act of supererogation? What are the boundaries of such duties in the face of threats of violence? These are the questions that this seminar will address while also shedding light on the specific mechanisms through which sexist, racist, and neo-fascist norms spread through society.

This seminar will be held in English, and the speakers of the night are:

• Annamari Vitikainen (UiT) – Will speak about the context of the integration of immigrants and especially LGBTQ+ refugees
• Jonas Jakobsen (UiT) – Will speak about right-wing populism
• Fabian Schuppert (Potsdam University) – Will talk about discursive shifts, that is, why suddenly things that were unspeakable before are acceptable to say
• Lena Gross (UiT) – Will talk about anti-trans hate speech and discrimination
• Jimena Zapata (Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München) – Will speak about hate speech from a legal and philosophical perspective
• Ketil Lenert Hansen - Will speak on Sami rights and discrimination

The moderator of the evening will be Kerstin Reibold (UiT)