All that is Solid Melts into Air, Andy Blunden
Lea Campbell
Hegel Summer School 2006
A review of the social, historical and ideological bases of the four currents of conservative politics in this period. Conservatism is no longer a blind reaction to progress, but a highly self-conscious and differentiated complex of distinct social forces. Each of these currents will be analysed in two short presentations from different speakers, followed by discussion.
9-9:30am: Welcome
9:30-11am Neo-Liberalism
All that is Solid Melts into Air, Andy Blunden
Lea Campbell
11-11:30am: Morning Break
11:30-1pm “Anyone for Culture Wars?”
The closing of the Australian mind?, Matthew Sharpe
Howard’s Triumvirate: marriage, mortgage and maternity, Julie Connolly
1-1:45pm: Lunch Break
1:45-3:15pm Neo-Fascism
Surf shops and cult wars, Andrew Vandenberg,
Postmodern Neofascism: Contemporary Rightwing Extremism in the Metropolitan Countries, Geoff Boucher
3:15-3:45pm: Afternoon Break
3:45-5:15pm Religious Fundamentalism
The science of fundamentalism: Justin Clemens
Postmodern Conservatism and Religious Fundamentalism: Geoff Boucher
Discussion:
Points made in discussion by Mick Leahy
Preparatory Reading material:
11 Theses on Postmodern Conservatism, Matthew Sharpe and Geoff Boucher
What is Postmodernism?, Frederic Jameson,