Hate, Conspiracy Theories, and the Challenge to Democracy (Closed Workshop)
Dates: October 28-30, 2025
Through the generous support of a SSHRC Connection Grant, Carleton University, and the Birkbeck Institute for the Study of Antisemitism, Populist Publics will host a closed workshop bringing together experts on various forms of hate, conspiracy, and extremism from October 28-30, at Carleton University. The full speaker list can be viewed below:
Does history rhyme or is it merely prose? Can we learn anything from attempts to combat conspiracy theories in the 1920s, 30s and 50s
David Feldman (University of London, Birkbeck Institute for the Study of Antisemitism, University of Melbourne)
Confronting Conspiracy: The Soviet Response to Antisemitism, 1917-1930
Brendan McGeever (University of London, Birkbeck Institute for the Study of Antisemitism)
The Return of the Khazar Conspiracy Theory in the Age of Liquid Imperialism
Ben Gidley (University of London, Birkbeck Institute for the Study of Antisemitism)
Resentment, Unbehagen, Decisionism: On the Affective Dimensions of Contemporary Authoritarian Politics
Paula Irene Villa Braslavsky (Ludwig-Maximilians Universität München, Department of Sociology)
From Hate to Hope (and Back Again): Social Media, Algorithms, and the Latent Conspiratorial Loop
Merlyna Lim (Carleton University, School of Journalism and Communication)
The Antisemitic Underpinnings of Anti-Trans Activism
Alan Jones / Jennifer Evans (both Carleton University, Department of History)
Homophobia as Mis- and Disinformation: An Examination of Historical and Current Anti-Queer Narratives and their Impacts
Clara Zink and Selina Hellfritsch
How COVID Made Us Conspiracy Theorists: A Story of the Pipeline to Hate, and the Case for Radical Empathy
Fionnuala Braun (Carleton University, Department of History & University of Saskatchewan, Department of Community Health and Epidemiology/CoVaRR-Net)
Residential School Denialism
Sean Carleton (University of Manitoba, Departments of History and Indigenous Studies)
The Poisonous Body Politic: QAnon, Conspiracy and Vulnerability
Rob Topinka (University of London, Birkbeck School of Creative Arts, Culture and Communication)
As this workshop is a closed event, we will be unable to accommodate the public. On the final day of the workshop, a public keynote will be hosted at the Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre, the details for which are below:
Date: October 30, 2025
Time: 6-9PM
Location: Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre, 355 Cooper Street, Ottawa, ON
What things do most mass shooters, terrorists, or violent extremists have in common? Most of us know the first: theyare almost always men and boys. But the second? They are almost always virulent misogynists, transphobes, and homophobes. Yet, this aspect almost always goes unreported in the media. Join leading extremism expert Cynthia Miller-Idriss (American University, School of Public Affairs) as she discusses her new book, tracing the roots of novel extremism and violence to an epidemic of yet-to-be acknowledged epidemic of on and offline misogyny.
Introduction by Dr. Jennifer Evans (Carleton University, Department of History).
Refreshments and Q&A to follow.
This event is made possible with the generous support of a SSHRC Connection Grant, Carleton University, the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, and the Birkbeck Institute for the Study of Antisemitism.
Date: April 3, 2025
Time: 6-9PM
Location: Azrieli Theatre, Room 101
On April 3rd, the History Department will host a public screening of the newly released film GOEBBELS and the FÜHRER. This compelling historical drama tells the story of Joseph Goebbels, Nazi Germany’s propaganda minister, and his role in building public support for the Holocaust and World War II
Set in the years between 1938 and 1945, the film explores how misinformation and propaganda can distort democratic discourse and contribute to social polarization—a theme that remains strikingly relevant in today’s world.
Opening remarks will be delivered by the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany.
After the screening, join us for a Q&A discussion featuring the film’s historical consultant, Dr. Thomas Weber, and Carleton University’s own Dr. Jennifer Evans. Refreshments will be available during the event, and we encourage you to engage in the discussion.
This event is made possible with the generous support of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, whose commitment to fostering informed dialogue around history and global issues has been instrumental in bringing this film and its important message to our community.
Updated seats have been added — please pick “General Admission — Seats Added” at checkout.