Business, Fascism, and the Erosion of Democracy
The conference is organised in collaboration with the University of Zurich, the Zicklin Center for Governance & Business Ethics at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, and the Swiss National Science Foundation.
In recent years, scholars and public commentators have revisited fascism in light of broader transformations affecting democratic societies, including rising authoritarianism, populism, nationalism, and polarisation. Rather than confirming the anticipated triumph of liberal democracy, some point to emerging conditions described as “illiberal democracy,” “post-democracy,” or even “post-fascism,” where institutions formally persist but gradually lose their deliberative, pluralistic, and rule-of-law substance. Today, liberal democracies face growing pressure: core institutions such as free elections, judicial independence, and press freedom are increasingly strained, while trust declines and support for authoritarian leadership rises.
PROGRAMME (excerpt):
03.06.2026
H14:00-14:10 Welcome Address
Dr. Ilyas Azouzi, Istituto Svizzero
H14:10-14:30 Opening remarks – Convenors Conference
Prof. Andreas Scherer, Universität Zürich
Prof. Guido Palazzo, Université Lausanne
Prof. Eric Orts, University of Pennsylvania
05.06.2026
Session 10
H09:00-09:30 Prof. Renate Meyer, Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien Authoritarianism and the weaponization of professional state bureaucracies
H09:30-10:00 Dr. Siddhant Ritwick, University of Zurich
Angels and Demons: Experts as Essential to Illiberalism
For the full programme please see the link below.
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