The Alfred Landecker Programme's seminar series on religion, populism and democracy is pleased to welcome Professor Philip Gorski (Yale University) to present his work on white Christian nationalism.

White Christian nationalism is one of the oldest and deepest currents in American political life. For much of the last four decades, it flowed underground, covered over with the polite euphemisms of 'American exceptionalism'. On 6 January 2021, it erupted back into full view. Phil locates its wellsprings in the violent racial conflicts of the late seventeenth century and sketches its development up until the present day. He concludes by comparing contemporary white Christian nationalism with its historical antecedents and reflecting on its relationship to right-wing populism. Professor Jeffrey Haynes (London Metropolitan University) will provide a response based on his new book Trump and the Politics of Neo-Nationalism: The Christian Right and Secular Nationalism in America.

Philip Gorski is Professor of Sociology and Religious Studies at Yale University. His research focuses on religion and politics in early modern and modern Europe and North America. His most recent books are American Covenant: A History of Civil Religion from the Puritans to the Present (Princeton, 2019) and American Babylon: Christianity and Democracy Before and After Trump (Routledge, 2020).

Alfred Landecker Seminar Series: Religion, populism and democracy

In anticipation of a series of workshops and conferences in collaboration with Cambridge, Utrecht, Yale, Göttingen and Helsinki (autumn 2021–winter 2023), this spring, the Alfred Landecker Programme presents a series of seminars on the theme of religion, populism and democracy. Save the date for future events in the series:

• Gaps in the protection of religious minorities through international law with Nazila Ghanea (Oxford) and a response by Stephen Rapp (Oxford) – Tuesday 18 May, 17:30–19:00
• Securitisation and the protection of minorities with Beatrice de Graaf (Utrecht) and a response by Federica d’Alessandra (Oxford) – Tuesday 1 June, 17:30–19:00

Please note: The seminars are held as meetings via Zoom. For more information and to make a request to participate, please email marietta.vandertol@bsg.ox.ac.uk.