009 - Thematic Session. Right-Wing Movements and Inequality: Looking to the Future

Session Submission Type: Invited Session

Description

A wave of progressive social movement activism beginning in the 1960s helped to reduce various types of social inequalities. The spread of progressive activism also attracted the attention of sociologists and other social scientists, creating a vibrant research field as scholars sought to better understand the emergence of social movements as well as the determinants of their successes and failures. In recent decades we have observed increases in conservative or right-wing activism, with many right-wing movements borrowing organizational forms and tactics previously employed by progressive counterparts. While social scientists were somewhat late in turning their attention to right-wing movements, that has begun to change. Our knowledge of conservative activism has grown substantially in recent years. In this session, scholars who have expertise pertaining to different types of right-wing movements will draw upon their past research to project into the future. While the wave of progressive activism has contributed to social equality in areas such as civil rights, LGBT rights, and gender equality, is there reason to expect that in the years ahead right-wing movements will experience success in rolling back gains that progressive movements have achieved, and exacerbating ongoing inequalities and injustices? Presentations by leading scholars will be followed by an open discussion of the future of right-wing activism.

Sub Unit

• Thematic Sessions

Session Organizer

• Rory M. McVeigh, University of Notre Dame

Presider

• Rory M. McVeigh, University of Notre Dame

Panelists

• Kathleen M. Blee, University of Pittsburgh

• Mabel Berezin, Cornell University

• christopher sebastian parker, University of Washington

Discussant

• Rory M. McVeigh, University of Notre Dame