Socialism after Populism Conference

November 15-16, 2019 • UC Riverside

Free and open to the public

Populism is at the forefront of political controversy across Europe, North America, and Latin America.   At the same time, socialism has come again to have a surprising resonance in political debate.  In the midst of a nearly worldwide ascendance of populism, what is the path for those who remain committed to the traditional goals of democratic socialism — the widening and strengthening of social and economic relations characterized by solidarity, greater equality, and freedom?  Is there a socialist theory or program that can successfully address the legacies of colonialism and racial hierarchy upon which much populism apparently feeds? Are Brexit and Trump signs of the past failure to promote solidarity, freedom and equality?  Or are they indications that future relevance requires those who are committed to solidarity, equality and freedom to adopt more populist ideals, strategies and policies?  Our conference invites participants to approach these and related questions, ones rooted in long-standing debates, in critical social analysis, normative concern and conceptual innovation.

Location & Parking

University of California, Riverside
CHASS Interdisciplinary Building South 1109

Complimentary permits available for Lot 1 at the Information Kiosk, located on West Campus Drive at University Avenue. Mention “Socialism Populism Conference” to pick up a permit. Refer to map below or view our campus map.

         

For more information, contact the Center for Ideas and Society at (951) 827-1556 or CISevents@ucr.edu.

Organizer

John Medearis (Department of Political Science)

Sponsors

Sponsored by the Research Committee on Political Philosophy, International Political Science Association; UC Riverside Center for Ideas and Society; UC Riverside Department of Political Science.


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Keynote by Kevin Olson, Professor, University of California, Irvine
“Specters of Socialism in the Populist Imagination”

Peter Breiner, Professor, State University of New York, Albany
“Does Socialism Preclude Populism?”

Mark Brown, Professor, California State University, Sacramento
“The Politics of Populism and White Identity”

Danniel Gobbi (PhD Candidate, Freie Universität Berlin) & Pedro Abelin (Master Student, University of Brasilia)
“The Populism Debate in Perspective: Overcoming Essentialism, Disputing Hegemony”

Farah Godrej, Associate Professor, University of California, Riverside
“Prison Yoga and Meditation: South Asian Texts and Practices in U.S. Mass Incarceration”

Stefan Kehlenbach, graduate student, University of California, Riverside
“The Biopolitics of Big Data: The Challenge of Big Data for Populism”

Benjamin McKean, Assistant Professor, Ohio State University
“Neoliberalism, Populism, Global Justice: Separated at Birth?”

Dylan Rohr, graduate student, UC Riverside,
“Populism, Socialism and Recognition”

Amit Ron, Associate Professor, Arizona State University
“Transnational Populism and the Transnational Demoi”

Gregory Zucker, graduate student, Rutgers University
“Democratic Socialism Contra Populism”

Friday, Nov. 15 CHASS Interdisciplinary Bldg. South (INTS) 1109
9:30 a.m. Coffee & Light Breakfast
10:15 a.m. Welcome
10:30 a.m. Panel 1: Populism, Identity and Recognition
Danniel Gobbi (PhD Candidate, Freie Universität Berlin) &
Pedro Abelin (Master Student, University of Brasilia), “The Populism Debate in Perspective: Overcoming Essentialism, Disputing Hegemony”

Dylan Rohr (PhD student, UC Riverside), “Populism, Socialism and Recognition”

Eric Mackey (Graduate student, UC Riverside), Discussant
12:00 p.m. Lunch
1:00 p.m. Panel 2: Neoliberalism and its Critics
Farah Godrej (Associate Professor, UC Riverside), “Prison Yoga and Meditation: South Asian Texts and Practices in U.S. Mass Incarceration”

Stefan Kehlenbach (PhD student, UC Riverside), “The Biopolitics of Big Data: The Challenge of Big Data for Populism”

Benjamin McKean (Assistant Professor, Ohio State University), “Neoliberalism, Populism, Global Justice: Separated at Birth?”

Jessica Lopez (Graduate student, UC Riverside), Discussant
2:45 p.m. Break (Coffee & Cookies)
3:00 p.m. Panel 3: Populism, Socialism and Democracy, I
Mark Kaswan (Associate Professor, Univ. of Texas- Rio Grande Valley), “Neoclassical Socialism”

Amit Ron (Associate Professor, Arizona State University), “Transnational Populism and the Transnational Demoi”

Heba Hodaly (Graduate student, UC Riverside), Discussant
4:30 p.m. Break (Coffee & Cookies)
5:00 p.m. Keynote: Kevin Olson (Professor, UC Irvine), “Specters of Socialism in the Populist Imagination”
6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Dinner
Saturday, Nov. 16 CHASS Interdisciplinary Bldg. South (INTS) 1109
9:45 a.m. Coffee & Light Breakfast
10:30 a.m. Panel 4: Populism, Socialism and Democracy, II
Peter Breiner (Professor, State University of New York, Albany), “Does Socialism Preclude Populism?”

Gregory Zucker (PhD student, Rutgers University), “Democratic Socialism Contra Populism”

Felicity Turkmen (Graduate Student, UC Riverside), Discussant
12:00 p.m. (Optional) Walk in the UCR Botanical Gardens