From September 8 to 10, 2025, the international conference “Images of History in Right-wing Populism and the Extreme Right: European and Global Perspectives” in Berlin will address the question of how right-wing populist and extreme right-wing parties and actors reinterpret research-based understandings of history. It will discuss denial and myth-making, counter-narratives and national justifications that are intended to promote a rebirth of national greatness.

The conference will look beyond Germany at right-wing historical myths in Europe and, from a global perspective, at case studies from Japan to the US. It will examine mobilization through history and identify similarities and differences.

Speakers at the symposium include Gideon Botsch, Srirupa Roy, Klaus Oschema, Magdalena Saryusz-Wolska, and Richard Steigmann-Gall.

The event is a collaboration between the Leibniz Research Association “Value of the Past” and the institutes of the Max Weber Foundation in Warsaw, Rome, Paris, and Tokyo, as well as the Heinrich Böll Foundation.

International conference

Date: (Mon – Wed), September 8–10, 2025

Location: Heinrich Böll Foundation, Schumannstr. 8, 10117 Berlin

Conference language: English

On the evening of September 8, there will be a public panel discussion (Berlin and livestream) on right-wing historical myths. Frank Bösch, Constanze Itzel, Katja Meier, and Volker Weiß will discuss the following questions, among others:

What role do they play in politics and society at the regional, federal, and European levels? What can be done to counter them? Does extensive historical knowledge lead to better politics and protect democracy? Does “never again” say it all, and does the reference to Weimar still mobilize people to preserve democratic achievements?

Public panel discussion “Right-wing historical myths. A challenge for society, academia, and politics”

Date: Monday, September 8, 2025

Time: 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Location: Heinrich Böll Foundation, Schumannstr. 8, 10117 Berlin and livestream

Event language: German, simultaneous translation into English

For more information and to register, visit: https://calendar.boell.de/de/event/rechte-geschichtsmythen