First fascist studies centre in UK launched at HMD event

The first research centre in the UK for fascist, anti-fascist and post-fascist studies is to open at Teesside University and was due to be formally launched at a Holocaust Memorial Day event.

The centre will be led by historians Professor Nigel Copsey and Dr Mark Feldman. Dr Feldman, who is half-Jewish, said he felt it was important such a centre existed. “Fascism left a very important mark on the 20th century”.

He said Judaism marked the big split in the far right today, that the “old school” were “sticking with the Jews” but that a new generation had shifted from biological antisemitism to Islamophobia.

Prof Copsey and Dr Feldman work closely with the Community Security Trust, which Prof Copsey called “pioneering”, citing their recording and reporting of hate crime as “second to none. They would be my first port of call as to analysis of how the far right performs in elections.”

A CST spokesperson said: “CST has had very good relations with Professor Copsey and Dr Feldman for some years. We wish them every success with this valuable initiative and look forward to working with them again.”