Study day - Value crises in the humanities and social sciences

News 24 January 2025

Value crises in the humanities and social sciences :
Transatlantic perspectives on populism and Trump's re-election.

6 February 2025 from 9.45am à 6.00 pm @ ICTT Research Laboratory, room 0W35
Avignon University and online (Interdisciplinary and bilingual study day)

Get involved face-to-face at the ICTT Research Laboratory, room 0W35, at Avignon University or online by registering by email at Sonya.Isaak@univ-avignon.fr with the subject line "registration for Thursday 6 February". Please register in advance (at least 24 hours if possible). You will then receive an active link from 9.45am (Paris time).

The re-election of Donald J. Trump as the 47th President of the United States represents much more than a political change; it is symptomatic of a global crisis in the values underpinning democratic societies, intellectual freedom and international cooperation. This study day will question the multiple implications of populism, as illustrated by Trump's victory, with a focus on its transatlantic impact in the humanities, social sciences and public discourse. The humanities and social sciences have always been at the heart of critical analysis, ethical reflection and democratic engagement. Yet these disciplines are facing increasing challenges from rising authoritarianism, intensified censorship, attacks on critical thinking and increased ideological polarisation. From literature and philosophy to law, political science and cultural studies, the fundamental values of intellectual freedom, academic autonomy and human rights are increasingly under threat. In addition, Trump's re-election raises urgent questions about the role of public policy, social networks and political rhetoric in shaping public opinion, as well as about the decline of democracy in the face of rapid technological transformations and developments in artificial intelligence.

This study day will explore the intersections between authoritarianism, rhetoric and the 'values crises' that threaten the future of higher education and, more broadly, that of democracy. The key questions to be addressed are

  • Why did Trump win the presidential election again, and what are the consequences for the United States and Europe?
  • How will Trump's second term affect transatlantic relations and public policy in the areas of education, freedom of enquiry and cultural exchanges?
  • How can the humanities and social sciences respond to the takeover of traditional and social media by technology tycoons?
  • What role does rhetoric play in perpetuating or resisting authoritarian narratives, and how can it be studied through the humanities and social sciences?
  • How can universities remain bastions of critical thought in the face of increasing polarisation, attempts to silence debate and disinformation?

By bringing together international journalists, literary scholars, philosophers, lawyers, political scientists and cultural historians, this study day aims to establish an interdisciplinary dialogue on these key issues. By taking the global spread of populism, reflected in Trump's victory, as a prism through which to address broader challenges, we hope to reaffirm the role of the humanities and social sciences in defending critical thinking and navigation in this era of value crises. This study day is envisaged as a pilot project for a wider symposium, with the aim of a publication to extend and disseminate the ideas generated.

Programme :

Morning sessions 

9.45 a.m.: Welcome Sonya Isaak and Graham Ranger, ICTT, Université d'Avignon (in French and English in a classroom setting, room 0W35).

10.00-10.15: Keynote speechSonya Isaak, Université d'Avignon "Polarised dialogue: Implications of populist rhetoric for the humanities and social sciences" (in French and English, face-to-face, room 0W35)

10.15-11.00: Plenary session, Raphaël Ricaud, Montpellier Paul-Valéry University
"Understanding the American elections (in French and English in a classroom setting, room 0W35).

11.00-11.15am: Coffee break (offered by the CROUS).

11.15am-11.45am: Speech by Christian Altmeier, deputy political editor at Rhein Neckar ZeitungHeidelberg, "Trump, act II: what do his first days in office mean for his second term?" (in English online). Followed by a Q&A session.

11.45am-12.30pm: In-person round table on populism in Europe (organised by the JPEG laboratory, Université d'Avignon) Led by Christèle Lagier and Jessica Sainty, with Jeanne Vermeirsche and Victor Planche, (in French, in person, room 0W35).
This round table will address :

  • The definition of "populism";
  • Distinctions between the French and American political contexts ;
  • The differences between the American alt-right and the French far right ;
  • The reasons for the recent votes in these two countries.

12.30-14.00: Lunch break (lunch provided by the CROUS).


Afternoon sessions

2.00-2.45pm: Talk by Irène Couzigou, Professor at the University of Aberdeen, Faculty of Law (PhD Université Panthéon-Assas) "The role of the law in the face of disinformation: the American presidential elections in perspective".. (in English and French online) Followed by a Q&A session.

2.45pm-3.30pm: Round table
"Trump and the new normalModerated by Philippe Mathieu, Université d'Avignon, with Théo Maligeay and Jillian Bruns, Université Montpellier Paul-Valéry (in French and English; in class, room 0W35).

15:30-15:45: Coffee break

3.45pm - 4.30pm: Speech by James Isaak, Southern New Hampshire University, IEEE Senior Member, "Social networks versus social capital (in English and online)
Followed by a question and answer session.

16:30-17:15: Speech by Carl O'Brien, Trinity College, Dublin, "Self-censorship in the development of school curricula. (Followed by a question and answer session.

5.15pm - 6.00pm: Speech by Dieter Köhler, Privatdozent in Philosophy and Digital Humanities, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology,
"Societies in crisis: what lessons can we learn from history? (in English and online) Followed by a Q&A session.

18h00-18h15: Closing remarks (in English and French face-to-face, room 0W35) 

7.00 pm: Speakers' dinner in a local restaurant.

👉 Discover the full program (.PDF format) 🇬🇧