Populism and Radical Politics

elective courses

The course introduces students to the main theories and interpretations of populism and radical politics, focusing on the current wave of populist tendencies in several societies.

Populism and radical politics (often, though not always interconnected) are hardly new or particularly uncommon phenomena.

Yet, their importance in today’s politics of several societies in various parts of the world becomes more and more evident.

The rise of populist tendencies in such countries as the USA, Poland, Hungary, the Netherlands, Italy or France has been striking and challenging for many commentators and analysts. There is no doubt it deserves most serious attention.

The need for a deeper understanding of these trends, that would go beyond merely ad-hoc journalistic commentaries, is well justified.

It goes without saying that “populism” is not a neutral term in the public discourse. It usually signifies criticism towards tendencies labelled as populist. Such criticism in the course’s approach will certainly be present, though it will not exhaust our research intentions. Populism will be discussed not just as a democracy’s disease, but also as its possibly inherent feature.

The course begins with an introduction to most influential theories of populism and radicalism – this part also includes a historical overview of the problem.

Second part is devoted to specific cases, related to recent expressions of populism and radicalism in various countries, though our focus is on Europe and America, i.e. Western societies.

Each participant is to contribute with her/his class presentation of a selected case, depending on their background, knowledge and interests. Obvious case studies will include: Donald Trump in the U.S., Orban’s policies in Hungary, ideas and practice of the Law and Justice party in Poland and of the National Front in France.

Other cases, including non-Western ones, can be also considered, as for example Erdogan’s and Putin’s ideas and policies.

In its third part, the course culminates with a collective attempt to work out a practical interpretation of current populism and radicalism, based on comparative approach.

The course is open to students of political and social sciences. It requires no specific prerequisites, apart from 1) reasonable command of spoken and written English, 2) decent knowledge of fundamental political concepts and notions.

Course rules and requirements:

1. Steady attendance. Two absences are allowed without consequences. In case of greater number of absences, an extra assignment paper will be required.

2. Participation in class discussions, based first of all on assigned reading, is strongly recommended. It is required if a student intends to complete this course with “5” (=”A”) grade.

3. Preparing for classes (reading assigned texts) is expected. During classes, the lecturer may ask specific questions to specific participants.

4. Participating in a class discussion and/or answering lecturer's questions will require turning on a camera, not just a microphone.

5. Every participant will need to:

- write a short home essay - 5 normalized pages = 9000 characters with spaces,

OR

- have online class presentation (circa 15 minutes).

Please note that:

- the number of class presentations will be limited,

- it is either a class presentation, or a home essay, not both.

7. The course will end with an oral online examination during summer examination session in the second half of June. Questions will refer to the reading materials, content of lectures and student online presentations.

Main reading (selected chapters and fragments):

Yves Mény, Yves Surel (eds.) „Democracies and the Populist Challenge”, 2002.

Ronald F. Inglehart, Pippa Norris: “Trump, Brexit, and the Rise of Populism: Economic Have-Nots and Cultural Backlash”, August 2016.

Ernesto Laclau, “On Populist Reason”, Verso 2005

Jose Ortega y Gassett, “THE REVOLT OF THE MASSES”.

Mario Wenning, “THE RETURN OF RAGE”, PARRHESIA NUMBER 8/2009, pp. 89-99.

Michael L. Conniff (ed.), “Populism in Latin America”, chapter by Joel Horowitz, “Populism and Its Legacies in Argentina, pp. 23-44.

Robert S. Jansen “Populist Mobilization: A New Theoretical Approach to Populism” by

at: Sociological Theory 29/2, June 2011, pp. 75-91.

Adam Balcer, “Beneath the surface of illiberalism: The recurring temptation of ‘national democracy’ in Poland and Hungary – with lessons for Europe” (WiseEuropa papers).

Michael Minkenberg, “The Tea Party and American Populism Today: Between Protest, Patriotism and Paranoia”.

On-line texts:

USA:

Pankaj Mishra, “HOW ROUSSEAU PREDICTED TRUMP. The Enlightenment philosopher’s attack on cosmopolitan élites now seems prophetic”.

http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/08/01/how-rousseau-predicted-trump

“The Peculiar Populism of Donald Trump” by Thomas B. Edsall

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/02/opinion/the-peculiar-populism-of-donald-trump.html?_r=0

„Why Donald Trump Really Is a Populist” by Francis Wilkinson (interview with Prof. Jan-Werner Mueller)

https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2017-02-16/why-donald-trump-really-is-a-populist

„How Donald Trump Fits Into the History of American Populism” by Martin Eiermann

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/martin-eiermann-/donald-trump-american-populism_b_9368030.html

UK:

“What Brexit Reveals About Rising Populism” - interview with Edward Alden, The Council on Foreign Relations

http://www.cfr.org/united-kingdom/brexit-reveals-rising-populism/p38102

“I Accuse! How Brexit Populism Is Destroying Democracy” by Nora Berend

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/nora-berend/brexit-populism_b_14512916.html

Germany:

“ALTERNATIVE FOR GERMANY AND THE RISE OF RIGHT-WING POPULISM” by Marcel Lewandowsky

https://sustainablesecurity.org/2017/01/17/alternative-for-germany-and-the-rise-of-right-wing-populism/

“Does Germany Hold the Key to Defeating Populism?” by SAMUEL HUNEKE

https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2017/03/germany-key-to-defeating-populism/520629/

France:

“How Populism Took Root in France” by URI FRIEDMAN

https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2017/04/france-election-populism/523500/

“Mélenchon’s Late Surge in France: the Triumph of Left-Wing Populism?” by PHILIPPE MARLIÈRE

http://www.counterpunch.org/2017/04/19/melenchons-late-surge-in-france-the-triumph-of-left-wing-populism/

“The Rise of Jean-Luc Mélenchon and France’s ‘Post-Democracy’” by HARRISON STETLER

https://newrepublic.com/article/142110/rise-jean-luc-melenchon-frances-post-democracy

Hungary:

Orbán’s Hungary. A Cautionary Tale About the Perils of Right-Wing National Populism by William Danvers

https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/security/reports/2016/11/28/292790/orbans-hungary/

“Viktor Orbán. Hungary’s Mainstream Illiberal National Populism” by J.N. PAQUET

https://politicsmeanspolitics.com/viktor-orbán-hungarys-mainstream-illiberal-national-populism-15dbef9649b1

“Hungary Is Too Small for Viktor Orban” by ESZTER ZALAN

http://foreignpolicy.com/2016/10/01/hungary-is-too-small-for-viktor-orban/

Poland:

Lessons from Poland on populism

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2017/01/five-lessons-of-populist-rule

The Dog That Already Barked: Post-Populism Crisis in Poland

http://www.academia.edu/8250149/The_Dog_That_Already_Barked_Post-Populism_Crisis_in_Poland

Poland’s Rightward Turn

https://www.dissentmagazine.org/article/polands-rightward-turn-law-justice-party-elections

Angry Majority. Poland after a Year of Populist Rule

http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/poland-and-the-eu-in-the-age-of-national-conservatism-a-1124850.html

Poland’s populist revenge

https://mondediplo.com/2016/03/02poland

Supplementary reading (selected fragments):

Michael KAZIN, “Democracy Betrayed and Redeemed: Populist Traditions in the United States”, in: Constellations, Volume 5, 1, 1998.

Cas MUDDE, “Populist radical right parties in Europe”, CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS 2007.

FRANCISCO PANIZZA (ed.) “Populism and the Mirror of Democracy”, VERSO London 2005.

JACK HAY WARD (ed.), “Elitism, Populism, and European Politics”, Oxford University Press

2004.

JOHN M. O’HARA, “A NEW AMERICAN TEA PARTY. The Counterrevolution Against Bailouts, Handouts, Reckless Spending, and More Taxes”, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2010.

Jonathan PUGH (ed.), “What is Radical Politics Today?” PALGRAVE MACMILLAN 2009.

Gustave LE BON, “THE CROWD: A STUDY OF THE POPULAR MIND”, NEW YORK, THE MACMILLAN CO. 1896.

John LLOYD, “The Closing of the European Gates? The New Populist Parties of Europe”, in: The Political Quarterly, 2003.

Peter SLOTERDIJK, “Rage and time: a psychopolitical investigation”, Columbia University Press 2010.

RONALD WINTROBE, “Rational Extremism. The Political Economy of Radicalism”, Cambridge University Press 2006.

4LIBERTY.eu Review NO.4, April 2016.

This online course will be taught through a combination of lectures, presentations and class discussions. Attendance at online classes is essential. All students are encouraged to participate in discussions. Every participant is expected to give a class presentation or write a home essay.

The course ends with an oral online exam.

Assessment:

1. Attendance – required (two absences allowed).

2. Participation in online class discussions, based first of all on assigned reading – recommended. Required - if a student intends to complete this course with “5” (=”A”) grade.

3. Preparing for classes (reading assigned texts) – expected, may be selectively verified.

4. Individual assignment – required – ONE of the following:

- home essay - 5 normalized pages = 9000 characters with spaces,

- online class presentation (circa 15 minutes).

5. Final online examination (oral) – required.