The Drift Toward Fascism in our Present Times

Analyses from Gender Studies | Innsbrucker Gender Lectures 2025/26

In light of the recent attacks on democracy and human rights, the increasing normalisation of authoritarian politics and the global rise of parties with open and extreme right-wing agendas, the Innsbruck Gender Lectures in the 2025/26 academic year will address the question of how these current developments can be analysed: Is this a new form of fascism? Or a fascistisation of politics, society and everyday life? How much democracy does liberal democracy (still) entail? What role do gender and sexual politics play in these transformations? How can we explain the ‘obsession’ with gender, sexuality, identity and gender-sensitive language that is being promoted globally by right-wing forces? What affects are generated in politics that target feminist achievements and queer and trans lifestyles? How do anti-democratic gender and sexual politics enforce the normalisation of authoritarian and (neo-)fascist every-day practices?

In addition to this analytical interest, the Innsbruck Gender Lectures also focuses on democratic politics in queer-feminist, anti-racist and anti-fascist struggles. The lectures also discuss what forms of alliances and resistance are needed to counter the violent dystopias of right-wing forces with utopias of a livable world for all.

In the winter semester 2025/26, the Innsbruck Gender Lectures will be embedded in a lecture series of the MA programme ‘Gender, Culture and Social Change’, which will explore the topic in greater depth. Information on the lecture series ‘Politische Kipppunkte. Feministische Perspektiven auf gegenwärtige Autoritarisierungs- und Faschisierungsprozesse’ can be found here: https://www.uibk.ac.at/de/ma-gender/studium/rvo_wise25/