Illiberalism Studies Program

Join us on Oct. 30 for Is There Room for Revolutionary Conservatives in Liberal Democracy? With Sylwia Sysko-Romańczuk, Jakub Drożdż, Piotr H. Kosicki, Laura K. Field, and Julian Waller. You won't want to miss it! Register here: tinyurl.com/3976yv78 @lkatfield.bsky.social @ieres-gwu.bsky.social

illiberalism.org“To American Energy All Things Are Possible:” Holy Land Affection and American Exceptionalism | illiberalism.orgElizabeth Shakman Hurd explores the affection for the Holy Land held by many Americans and its connection to American expansion and support for Israel.

New piece! @bethhurd.bsky.social explores the affection for the Holy Land held by many Americans and its connection to American expansion and support for Israel.

illiberalism.orgRemaking Religion amid Contestations of Liberalism: Introduction to the New Essay Series | illiberalism.orgGulnaz Sibgatullina with an introduction to a new series focusing on the changing interaction between religion and liberalism.

New piece! @gulnazsibgatullina.bsky.social introduces a new series focusing on the changing interaction between religion and liberalism.

illiberalism.orgReligion amid Liberal Contestation | illiberalism.orgThe Religion amid Libera Contestation Initiative focuses on the interaction between religion and liberalism.

Stay tuned here for more upcoming pieces in this series: www.illiberalism.org/religion-ami...

illiberalism.orgA Fusionist Future? Not So Fast! illiberalism.org |Matt McManus reviews Stephanie Slade's book, Fusionism, and suggests that a return to fusionist principles is undesirable.

New piece! Matt McManus reviews Stephanie Slade's book, Fusionism, and argues against a return to fusionist principles. Check it out! @mattpolprof.bsky.social @sladesr.bsky.social @ieres-gwu.bsky.social

tinyurl.comHow Democracies Revive: Why Illiberalism Keeps Winning and What to DoJoin us for a discussion with Gábor Scheiring about his new book, How Democracies Revive, moderated by Maria Snegovaya.

Just a reminder! Join us on Oct. 21 for How Democracies Revive, with @gscheiring.bsky.social and @msnegovaya.bsky.social. You won't want to miss it! Register here: tinyurl.com/2v5wzhce @ieres-gwu.bsky.social

Illiberalism Studies Program@illsp.bsky.social

Join us on Oct. 21 for How Democracies Revive, with @gscheiring.bsky.social and @msnegovaya.bsky.social. You won't want to miss it! Register here: tinyurl.com/2v5wzhce @ieres-gwu.bsky.social

youtube.comLiberalism as a Way of LifeYouTube video by Illiberalism Studies Program

In case you missed it, the recording of our event, Liberalism as a Way of Life, with Alex Lefebvre and Laura K. Field, is now on YouTube. Check it out! www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zv-F... @lefebvrealex.bsky.social @lkatfield.bsky.social

illiberalism.org“If We Do Nothing”: White Supremacist Book Reviews and the Response to Ethnonationalist Propaganda illiberalism.org |Laura Jeffries on white nationalist book reviews, their purpose in co-opting scholarly forms, and the necessity of an adequate response.

New piece! Laura Jeffries on white nationalist book reviews, their purpose in co-opting scholarly forms, and the necessity of an adequate response. Check it out! @ieres-gwu.bsky.social

Join us on Oct. 21 for How Democracies Revive, with @gscheiring.bsky.social and @msnegovaya.bsky.social. You won't want to miss it! Register here: tinyurl.com/2v5wzhce @ieres-gwu.bsky.social

paulusblokker.wordpress.comNew positionsUsing Liberal Tools for Illiberal Missions (ULTIM) (2026-2031) Postdoctoral positions The following positions are open for application ( Profiles of the postdoctoral positions: a. Postdoc 1 will fo…

May be of interest: The University of Bologna's Department of Sociology and Business Law is hiring 4 postdocs for its 5-year research project, “Using Liberal Tools for Illiberal Missions (ULTIM).” The deadline is Oct. 19, 2026. paulusblokker.wordpress.com/new-positions/

Join us on Oct. 19 for an online discussion with the editors of the Routledge Handbook of Ideology Analysis. You won't want to miss it! Register here: tinyurl.com/5a4vkx8z @ieres-gwu.bsky.social

Reminder! Join us this Friday, Oct. 9 for an event with Alex Lefebvre on his book, Liberalism as a Way of Life. You won't want to miss it! Register here: tinyurl.com/yhdesm5n @ieres-gwu.bsky.social

Illiberalism Studies Program@illsp.bsky.social

Join us on Oct. 9 for a discussion with Alex Lefebvre about his book, Liberalism as a Way of Life! He will be joined by Laura K. Field. Don't miss it! Register here: tinyurl.com/ejayfdjr @lkatfield.bsky.social @lefebvrealex.bsky.social

illiberalism.org“All things fall and are built again”: Grievance Poetry and White Nationalist Culture Building illiberalism.org |Laura Jeffries continues her dive into the mythopoetics of the far right, looking at the white nationalist poetry of Mark Mazari.

New piece! Laura Jeffries continues her dive into the mythopoetics of the far right, looking at the white nationalist poetry of Mark Mazari. Check it out! @ieres-gwu.bsky.social

illiberalism.orgImperial State Capitalism: Fusing State Ownership with Frontier Tech Power illiberalism.org |Ilias Alami unpacks the drive towards state ownership in critical sectors today, and details its relationship with the reconfiguration of empire.

New piece! Ilias Alami unpacks the drive toward state ownership in critical sectors today and details its relationship to the reconfiguration of empire. Check it out! @iliasalami.bsky.social @ieres-gwu.bsky.social www.illiberalism.org/imperial-sta...

illiberalism.orgThe Three Thresholds Crossed by the AfD Victory | illiberalism.orgMarlene Laruelle on the AfD's victory in Saxony-Anhalt and the deeper dynamics that undergird its rise in popularity as a viable political option.

16 Sept

New piece! Marlene Laruelle on the AfD's victory in Saxony-Anhalt and the deeper dynamics that undergird its rise in popularity as a viable political option.

illiberalism.orgMaking and Manipulating Cultural Texts in Far-Right World-Building illiberalism.org |Laura Jeffries introduces a new series on cultural production, far-right world-building, and necessity of defending the arts.

15 Sept

New piece! Laura Jeffries introduces a new series on cultural production, far-right world-building, and the necessity of defending the arts. Check it out! @ieres-gwu.bsky.social www.illiberalism.org/making-and-m...

illiberalism.orgOpposition Without Substance: The Failures of Hungary’s Antipolitical Left | illiberalism.orgBeni Kovacs on the Hungarian left's legacy preference for antipolitics and its ensuing inefficacy at competing in political elections.

10 Sept

New piece! @beni-kovacs.bsky.social on the Hungarian left's legacy preference for antipolitics and its ensuing inefficacy at competing in political elections.

illiberalism.orgInheriting the Protocols: The ZOG Myth in Contemporary Political Discourse illiberalism.org |Alexander Lowie examines how antisemitic tropes and conspiracies of old are translated into new political vocabularies, suggesting that identifying "ZOG-whistles" is critically important today.

8 Sept

New piece! Alexander Lowie examines how antisemitic tropes and conspiracies of old are translated into new political vocabularies, suggesting that identifying "ZOG-whistles" is critically important today. Check it out! @ieres-gwu.bsky.social www.illiberalism.org/inheriting-t...

A new issue of the Journal of Illiberalism Studies is out now! Check out the thread below to see what is inside! www.illiberalism.org/jis-summer-2...

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illiberalism.orgInfusing Illiberalism into World Culture: How the Illiberal Turn in the Global Gender Regime Is Being Conducted | illiberalism.orgAmir Barjasteh on how contemporary illiberal actors seek to transform world culture by strategically infusing anti-liberal norms into global institutions and discourses

Finally, Amir Barjasteh closes the issue out with a piece on how contemporary illiberal actors seek to transform world culture by strategically infusing anti-liberal norms into global institutions and discourses.

illiberalism.orgJIS Summer 2026 | illiberalism.orgJournal of Illiberalism Studies | Volume 6 No. 2 (Summer 2026)

Check out the full issue at the link below! www.illiberalism.org/jis-summer-2...

A new issue of the Journal of Illiberalism Studies is out now! Check out the thread below to see what is inside! www.illiberalism.org/jis-summer-2...

View full thread

illiberalism.orgAn Insiders’ Illiberalism: France’s Republicans and the Illiberal Temptation | illiberalism.orgÉmilien Houard-Vial on the Les Républicains as a case study for understanding how political actors employ illiberal rhetoric.

Next, an article by @ehouardvial.bsky.social who uses the case study of the French far-right party Les Républicains as a case study for understanding how political actors employ illiberal rhetoric.

illiberalism.orgThe Russians as the “Christian Savior of the World”? Russia, the World Congress of Families, and the Export of Illiberal Family Values | illiberalism.orgPål Kolstø on the work of Russian activists and their involvement with the World Congress of Families to understand their role in exporting illiberal values.

This is followed by Pål Kolstø who looks at the work of Russian activists and their involvement with the World Congress of Families to understand their role in exporting illiberal values.

A new issue of the Journal of Illiberalism Studies is out now! Check out the thread below to see what is inside! www.illiberalism.org/jis-summer-2...

View full thread

illiberalism.orgIs Illiberalism Really Opposed to Neoliberalism?Rethinking Illiberalism as the Ideology of the New Right | illiberalism.orgRaphaël Demias-Morisset on illiberalism as an evolution of the New Right and a countermovement to progressive neoliberalism.

Next, @raphdemiasmorisset.bsky.social engages with the concept of illiberalism arguing that illiberalism should be understood as either a mutation or a direct heir of the “original” New Right and, ultimately, a countermovement to progressive neoliberalism.

illiberalism.orgJean-Claude Michéa through the Orwell Compass: Escaping Orthodox Marxism without Renouncing Socialism | illiberalism.orgAmaury Giraud on the life and work of Jean-Claude Michéa and his intellectual connection to the writing of George Orwell.

We follow with an article from Amaury Giraud looking a the life and work of Jean-Claude Michéa and his intellectual connection to the writing of George Orwell.

A new issue of the Journal of Illiberalism Studies is out now! Check out the thread below to see what is inside! www.illiberalism.org/jis-summer-2...

illiberalism.orgRestoring the Past or the Future?Post-liberalism between Nostalgia and Hauntology | illiberalism.orgAaron Irion on how to think about the prefix "post," postliberalism's relationship to the past, present, and future, and three postliberal potentialities.

We begin with a piece from @aaronirion.bsky.social with a piece on how to think about the prefix "post," postliberalism's relationship to the past, present, and future, and three postliberal potentialities.

illiberalism.org“The trap bigots have laid”: Colorblindness, the Red Scare State, and the Liberalizing of Civil Rights illiberalism.org |Evie Levin on how colorblindness was weaponized by the liberal state during the Cold War, and how the fight for civil rights is still impacted by this legacy today.

1 Sept

New piece! Evie Levin on how the liberal state weaponized colorblindness during the Cold War, and how the fight for civil rights is still impacted by this legacy today. Check it out! @ieres-gwu.bsky.social www.illiberalism.org/the-trap-big...

illiberalism.orgCreole Modernity: Digital Illiberalism in Singapore | illiberalism.orgJames Rosenberg on the pillars that make Singapore as a real-world example of digital illiberal governance

31 Aug

New piece! James Rosenberg on the pillars that make Singapore as a real-world example of digital illiberal governance.

illiberalism.org“Cultural Marxism” and its Critics, Then and Now illiberalism.org |Jesse Russell on accusations of "cultural marxism," the Frankfurt School and its critics, and our present moment.

21 Aug

New piece! Jesse Russell on accusations of "cultural Marxism," the Frankfurt School and its critics, and our present moment. Check it out!

illiberalism.orgPierre-Édouard Stérin’s Cultural Battle: How a French Tycoon Invests Culture and Education to Change Politics | illiberalism.orgPauline Picco on how French billionaire Pierre-Édouard Stérin is investing in education, culture, and Catholic traditionalist networks to advance a far-right metapolitical project aimed at reshaping F...

17 Aug

New piece! Pauline Picco on how French billionaire Pierre-Édouard Stérin is investing in education, culture, and Catholic traditionalist networks to advance a far-right metapolitical project aimed at reshaping French politics.

illiberalism.orgSébastien Broca on the Ideological Realignment of Big Tech and the Emergence of a New Phase of Digital Capitalism | illiberalism.orgSébastien Broca on the Ideological Realignment of Big Tech and the Emergence of a New Phase of Digital Capitalism.

14 Aug

New interview! Sébastien Broca on the Ideological Realignment of Big Tech and the Emergence of a New Phase of Digital Capitalism.

illiberalism.orgFive Lessons from the Study of Illiberalism illiberalism.org |Marlene Laruelle draw out five takeaways from the field of illiberalism studies, showing how illiberalism grows through everyday life, shared values, and the internal contradictions of liberalism.

4 Aug

New piece! Marlene Laruelle draws out five takeaways from the field of illiberalism studies, showing how illiberalism grows through everyday life, shared values, and the internal contradictions of liberalism. Check it out!

Illiberalism Studies Program reposted

Post-liberalism.org

@post-liberalism.bsky.social

29 July

New interview! Matt Sleat discusses post-liberals' conception of the common good and their political aims, post-liberalism's conflation of liberalism and modernity, and a liberal path forward. Check it out!

post-liberalism.orgInterview: Matt Sleat on Post-liberalism and the Common Good, Modernity, and Liberal PerfectionismMatt Sleat discusses post-liberals' conception of the common good and their political aims, post-liberalism's conflation of liberalism and modernity, and a liberal path forward.

23 July

Reminder that there is still time to submit your proposals for our conference on the return of religion to politics! Check out the full call for papers at the link here: tinyurl.com/54rbr9xj Travel and accommodation covered!

Illiberalism Studies Program@illsp.bsky.social

Call for Papers! The Journal of Illiberalism Studies is actively seeking paper proposals for a conference and special issue on Theopolitics. Proposals due July 31. Travel and accommodation will be covered. Details here: tinyurl.com/54rbr9xj

illiberalism.orgElon Musk and SpaceX’s Futurist Coup | illiberalism.orgPaul Vacca explores how science fiction provides the basis for Elon Musk's unique approach to acquiring evermore political and economic power.

16 July

New piece! Paul Vacca explores how science fiction provides the basis for Elon Musk's unique approach to acquiring evermore political and economic power.

persuasion.communityLiberalism, Heal ThyselfAny path forward for the movement starts with hard questions.

15 July

Our director, Marlene Laruelle, has a new piece in Persuasion! She probes what a genuine renewal of liberalism would look like, arguing that reconstruction needs to be meaningful and must answer to something if it is going to succeed. Check it out!

illiberalism.orgMatt Sleat on Post-liberalism and the Common Good, Modernity, and Liberal Perfectionism illiberalism.org |Matt Sleat discusses post-liberals' conception of the common good and their political aims, post-liberalism's conflation of liberalism and modernity, and a liberal path forward.

10 July

Illiberalism Studies Program reposted

Post-liberalism.org

@post-liberalism.bsky.social

10 July

New piece! Marlene Laruelle thinks through what a left-wing post-liberalism might look like, concluding that it begins by recentering three kinds of public commons. Check it out!

post-liberalism.orgWhat If Postliberalism Were on the Left?By Marlene Laruelle

illiberalism.orgTrump-First Foreign Policy and the Liberal International Order That Never Was illiberalism.org |Erin Lockwood on the vulnerabilities of the liberal international order, what characterizes America's "Trump first" foreign policy, and the unpredictability of what comes next.

8 July

New piece! Erin Lockwood on the vulnerabilities of the liberal international order, what characterizes America's "Trump first" foreign policy, and the unpredictability of what comes next. Check it out! @erinkaylockwood.bsky.social @reijer.bsky.social

Illiberalism Studies Program reposted

Matt McManus

@mattpolprof.bsky.social

6 July

Very happy to have contributed to this swell volume for @illsp.bsky.social www.illiberalism.org/frontiers-of...

illiberalism.orgFrontiers of American Reaction Volume I: Myths, MAGA, the Tech Right, and Liberalism Today | illiberalism.orgThe Illiberalism Studies Program presents this short collection of essays from our “Frontiers of American Reaction” series. These essays, published between 2022 and 2026, take stock of the cultural, p...

6 July

Check out our new book, Frontiers of American Reaction Vol. 1! This ebook collects essays written from 2022 to 2026 and takes on themes ranging from myths and MAGA to the tech right and liberalism. Download it for free now! www.illiberalism.org/frontiers-of...

@lkatfield.bsky.social @jcherniss.bsky.social @joshuatait.bsky.social @mattpolprof.bsky.social @henrymjtonks.bsky.social

6 July

1 July

illiberalism.orgCoal and Censers: Weaponized Nostalgia for a Constructed Past in Orthodox Appalachia | illiberalism.orgEliza Fisher looks at the writing of Alfred Kentigern Siewers to understand the Reactive Orthodoxy movement and its vision of America.

30 June

New piece! @elizajfisher.bsky.social looks at the writing of Alfred Kentigern Siewers to understand the Reactive Orthodoxy movement and its vision of America.

illiberalism.orgArnaud Miranda on Neo-Reactionary Thought, its Origins, and its Tensions Within MAGA | illiberalism.orgArnaud Miranda on Neo-Reactionary Thought, its Origins, and its Tensions Within MAGA.

29 June

New interview! Arnaud Miranda on Neo-Reactionary Thought, its Origins, and its Tensions Within MAGA.

illiberalism.orgMaterialized Science Fiction and the Remaking of Empire illiberalism.org |Ali Rıza Taşkale on SpaceX's questionable valuation, and how science fiction is being materialized as a transformation of empire.

26 June

New piece! @alirizataskale.bsky.social on SpaceX's questionable valuation, and how science fiction is being materialized as a transformation of empire.