This conference will examine the political and cultural significance of Donald Trump’s election as president of the United States, and consider the first 100 days of his administration.
Speakers include: Robert Brigham (Vassar College), Scott Lucas (University of Birmingham/EAWorldview), Diane Negra (University College Dublin), Inderjeet Parmar (City, University of London), Donald E. Pease (Dartmouth College).
Topics may include but are not confined to:
“Make America Great Again” – American exceptionalism, nostalgia
“America First” – foreign policy and diplomacy
“Protect our borders” – immigration and terrorism
“Drain the swamp” – Washington elites, lobbying and corruption
“A historic movement” – white nationalism, identity politics, protest
“American carnage” – dystopian visions of the US, narratives of decline
“Crime and gangs and guns” – race and the cities, gun violence, civic anxiety
“Fake news” – politics in the new media age, post-truth, alternative facts
“I have great respect for women” – gender and politics, misogyny, civility
“I am very rich” – inequality, wealth, class
“I’ll be so presidential” – celebrity, reality tv, satire
“Bing, bing, bong, bong” – Trump’s language, rhetoric
“Buy American and hire American” – trade, protectionism
“Brexit’s a great thing” – transatlantic relations, populism, ethnonationalism
We welcome individual papers but also proposals for panels, workshops or alternative sessions for presentation and discussion. Please send a brief CV and summary proposal (300 words max.) by 10th March 2017 to Prof. Liam Kennedy at liam.kennedy@ucd.ie