Workshop explores everyday effects of far-right populism, racism, and xenophobia in Portugal

27 June 2025 | 09:30–18:00
Sala Jorge Gaspar, IGOT – University of Lisbon

At a time of growing political tension in Portugal, marked by the electoral rise of the far-right, the workshop "Connecting the Dots between Portugal’s Far Right Populism, Racism, and Xenophobia: Everyday Implications for Racialized Migrants" offers a critical lens on the everyday and structural dimensions of racism in the country.

Organised by Reena Kukreja, José Mapril, and Sofia Aboim Inglez, with the support of CRIA, ICS-ULisboa, and Queen’s University (Toronto), the event brings together scholars whose work examines the impact of political radicalisation on migrant and racialised communities—particularly in the realms of digital labour, healthcare, agriculture, and local politics.

The workshop programme interweaves critical analyses of migration and labour markets with first-hand accounts and case studies that expose how the myth of “Lusotropicalism” coexists with discriminatory practices and institutional violence. Sessions will explore topics such as:

• The racialisation of agricultural labour
• The sensory experience of racial violence
• Obstetric violence against racialised women
• Hate speech and the role of the far right
• The vulnerability of racialised migrants on digital platforms

The final discussion centres on a pressing question: What future lies ahead for inclusion and the rights of racialised communities in an increasingly polarised society?

With this initiative, the organisers aim not only to “connect the dots” between populism, racism, and xenophobia, but also to highlight the urgent need for public policies and social practices that confront the deeply rooted and often normalised inequalities of everyday life.