Speaking with Forked Tongues

The Rhetoric of Right-Wing Extremism Today

A one-day international symposium on the language of far-right movements

Friday, 26 June 2009, Park Campus, University of Northampton

Keynote speakers: Professor Roger Griffin, Professor Janet Wilson, Mr. Michael Ellis

 

From Holocaust “revisionism” in places like Central Europe to “white nationalist” parties in Britain and

France to veiled anti-Semitic conspiricism by the American ideologue, Lyndon LaRouche, the recourse

to language as a political veil, rather than a transparent means of communication, has been a key feature

of radical right-wing movements since 1945. This daylong event promises to uncover salient techniques

and relevant practices employed in far-right rhetoric, for the benefit of contemporary researchers,

policy-makers and the wider public.

 

To attend the conference, registration is compulsory.

 

 

For further information, please contact the organisers:

Dr Matthew Feldman (matthew.feldman@northampton.ac.uk) and Dr Paul Jackson (paul.jackson@northampton.ac.uk)

 

 

Introduction, 9.30-9.50am:

Welcome and Overview: Dr Paul Jackson

Opening Remarks: Mr. Michael Ellis (Conservative Parliamentary

Candidate, Northampton North)

 

Panel 1, 9.50-11.00am:

The Language of Contemporary Right-Wing Extremism

Prof. Roger Griffin: “Lingua Quarti Imperii: The euphemistic

tradition of the extreme right”

Prof. Janet Wilson: “Far-right rhetoric in the popular press”

 

Panel 2, 11.30am-1.00pm:

The Rhetoric of Party Political Extremism in Europe: BNP,

NPD and FN

Dr Peter Davies: “From Aids to Eugenics: The Moralising

Language of Jean-Marie Le Pen’s Front National”

Dr Paul Jackson: “Avoiding 'Pavlovian PC Reactions': The

BNP and Nick Griffin's Finessing of the British Far-Right”

Dr Matthew Feldman: 'Because it's not racist ... it's common

sense!' An analysis of the far-right's performance in the

European elections'

 

Lunch, 1.00-2.00pm: Sunley Management Centre

 

Panel 3, 2.00-3.00pm:

The LaRouche Organisation

Mr Dennis King: “Shame-faced Fascism: The Ideology of

Lyndon LaRouche”

Mr Chip Berlet: “Coded antisemitism and the Jeremiah

Duggan Case”

 

Panel 4, 3.00-3.45pm:

Forum Discussion on the LaRouche Organisation

Chaired by Mr. Yves Messer, with victims’ families and exmembers

 

Round Table Discussion, 4.30-6.00pm

Chaired by Dr Matthew Feldman