This reading circle will serve as a preparatory event for an upcoming international conference, titled “Socioeconomics and Law – The conditions of the authoritarian turn yesterday and today” that is set to take place in Vienna from May 24^th to 26^th 2027.

After the first round of the reading circle that focused on Wendy Brown’s (2019) “In the Ruins of Neoliberalism”, the upcoming sessions will deal with texts by Friedrich Hayek and Carl Schmitt, diving into their understanding of freedom and democracy, of the state and markets and of fascism and liberalism.

The sessions will take place at Vienna University of Economics and Business (WU) on the following dates from 5pm – 6.30pm CEST:

• Tue, December 09^th, 2025, 5pm-6.30pm, WU, Building AD.0.090 (Sitzungssaal 6):
  The Road to Serfdom by Friedrich Hayek (Introduction, Chapter 1 and 2)

• Thu, January 15^th, 2026, 5pm-6.30pm:
  The Constitution of Liberty by Friedrich Hayek (Chapter 16)

• Wed, February 25^th, 2026, 5pm-6.30pm:
  Texts by and about Carl Schmitt (details will be shared soon)

To enable international participation there is also the possibility to participate in a hybrid mode. Please register via e-mail for a link to participate online.

We are looking forward to your participation and to an exciting exchange!

Andreas Novy, Verena Madner and Stefan Mayr