This PhD seminar, held by Isabella Weber (Associate Professor of Economics at UMass Amherst) and supported by Andreas Novy (Associate Professor at the Vienna University of Economics and Business) is open to students of social science, economics and related fields that are interested in the interactions between economic systems, economic policy making and the return of fascist forces. The seminar conducts a close reading of classic contributions on the economic conditions for fascism and visions for economic alternatives and reviews recent empirical literature on the economic conditions for the rise of the extreme right. Based on this theoretical and empirical foundation the last part of the seminar discusses how economics can help to halt rather than fuel fascist forces and be in that sense antifascist.

Students will be able 
•    to better understand interactions between economic systems, economic policy making and the return of fascist forces and
•    to relate the topics of the seminar to their personal PhD-project.

Regular attendance, one absence permitted

In each session, a lecture by Isabella Weber on the readings and their significance for the themes pursued in the seminar will be followed by a class discussion. Attendance is required and participation in seminar discussions is important.

1. Regular attendance (one absence permitted) and active participation in seminar discussions.

2. Short oral presentation on parts of the course literature (20 %)

3. One-page written proposal (20 %)

4. Term paper (60 %)

Registration & Application

The Research Seminar Anti-fascist Economics: Exploration of an Urgent Agenda will be open for PhD-Students at Vienna University of Economics and Business (WU), University of Vienna and Central European University (CEU). Also, Master-Students at University of Vienna and CEU will be able to participate. Participation is limited.

Send your application (including a letter of motivation [1 page max]) and a CV to: polanyi_visitingprofessor@wu.ac.at, by 27/02/2026.

More information on the Vienna Karl Polanyi Visiting Professorship by Isabella Weber will be published on the website of the International Karl Polanyi Society.

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