Cecily Bateman

PhD thesis: The Use of Classics by the Far-Right in Europe and America from 1945 to the Present (Preliminary)

My PhD focuses on how the post-war far-right have utilised, developed and deviated from the tactics of fascist regimes and pre-war right-wing ideologies in constructing their own extremist classics-informed ideology. Current scholarship on extremist reception seems to leap from the mid-20th century fascist regimes to post-2016 with little acknowledgement of the intervening developments. This compromises our ability to understand the evolution of ideas currently in circulation, situate them within historical context, and counter their virulence. My thesis will examine how the far-right have used classics in constructing a historically constant white identity, with associated values and genealogy, far-right use of classical philosophers and their reception, and the use of classics to create a concept of ‘heroic individualism’. I hope through this thesis to not only contribute to classical scholarship, but also to aid in activist efforts to counter the far-right today.

Who or what inspired you to pursue your research interests?

My research is inspired by my combined interest in the ancient world, the process by which ideologies are formed and negotiated, and my commitment to activism. Just as classics was central to Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy, it remained an inspiration to post-war right-wing extremists and to the far-right today. The far-right is increasingly gaining power worldwide, and it is imperative to fully understand their ideologies and history to counter them.