Abstract
Full Text
Populism (studies) does not exist, but it still matters
Aurelien Mondon, University of Bath
Despite the provocative statement made in the title, the aim of this article is not to argue that populism (studies) does not exist or that it cannot be a useful concept, or that there may not be space for a lively field of populism studies to develop. Yet the argument developed here is that it is only possible if our understanding of populism serves a purpose such as helping us make better sense of the world around us. If, on the contrary, the term is used to obscure, deflect and divert attention away from processes of power formation and consolidation, then populism and populism studies do not exist: they are a simulacrum, a con. To explore these issues, I first (re)engage with the concept of ‘populist hype’ originally developed with Jason Glynos (2016) and apply it more precisely to academia. I then turn to one key contradiction in populism studies whereby definitional debates are both incredibly lively and yet often used to conceal power. In both sections, I explore the way in which populism has often been conflated with the far right, losing its explanatory power and legitimising such politics. Finally, I conclude with some reflections on the future of populism studies.
References
Albertazzi, D. and McDonnell, D. (2008). Twenty-First Century Populism: The Spectre of Western European Democracy. London: Palgrave.
Bale, T., van Kessel, S. & Taggart, P. (2011). Thrown around with abandon? Popular understandings of populism as conveyed by the print media: A UK case study. Acta Politica, 46, 111–131.
Bourdieu, P. (1973). L’opinion publique n’existe pas. Temps Moderne, 318, 1292-1309
Brown, K. and Mondon, A. (2021). Populism, the media, and the mainstreaming of the far right: The Guardian’s coverage of populism as a case study. Politics, 41(3), 279-295.
Brown, K. (2022). forthcoming. Talking ‘with’ and ‘about’ the far right: putting the mainstream in mainstreaming. PhD Thesis. Bath: University of Bath.
Collovald, A. (2004). Le populisme du FN: un dangereux contresens. Bellecombe-en-Bauges: Ed. Du Croquant.
Dean, J. and Maiguashca, B. (2020). Did somebody say populism? Towards a renewal and reorientation of populism studies. Journal of Political Ideologies, 25(1), 11-27.
De Cleen, B., Glynos, J. and Mondon, A. (2018). Critical research on populism: Nine rules of engagement. Organization, 25(5), 649-661.
De Cleen, B. & Glynos J. (2021). Beyond Populism Studies’, Journal of Language and Politics, 20(1), 178-195.
Eklundh, E. (2020). Excluding emotions: The performative function of populism. Partecipazione e Conflitto 13(1), 107-131.
Glynos, J. & Mondon, A. (2016). The Political Logic of Populist Hype: The Case of Right-Wing Populism’s ‘Meteoric Rise’ and Its Relation to the Status Quo. Populismus Working Paper Series, No. 4.
Goyvaerts, J. (2021). The Academic Voice in Media Debates on Populism. Populismus Working Papers, No. 12.
Goyvaerts, J., Brown, K., Mondon, A., De Cleen, B. and Glynos, J. (2023 forthcoming). On the Politics of ‘Populism’: The Case of Populist Hype. In Katsambekis, G. and Stavrakakis, Y. (eds.) Elgar Research Handbook on Populism. Cheltenham: Elgar.
Hunger, S. and Paxton, F. (2021). What’s in a buzzword? A systematic review of the state of populism research in political science. Political Science Research and Methods, online first.
Karavasilis, L. (2022). Populism and Other -Isms: Comparing left- and right-wing populism in Greece and Germany.Doctoral thesis. Loughborough: Loughborough University.
Katsambekis, G. (2016). The populist surge in post-democratic times: Theoretical and political challenges. The Political Quarterly, 88(2), 1–9.
Katsambekis, G. (2020). Constructing ‘the people’ of populism: a critique of the ideational approach from a discursive perspective. Journal of Political Ideologies, 27(1), 53-74.
Kim, S. (2021). Taking stock of the field of populism research: Are ideational approaches ‘moralistic’ and post-foundational discursive approaches ‘normative’?. Politics, online first.
Lentin, A. (2020). Why Race Still Matters. Cambridge: Polity Press.
Maiguashca, B. (2019). Resisting the ‘populist hype’: a feminist critique of a globalising concept. Review of International Studies, 45(5), 768-785.
Mondon, A. (2015). ‘Populism, the people and the illusion of democracy: the Front National and UKIP in a comparative context’, French Politics, 13(2):141–156.
Mondon, A. (2022a). Populism, public opinion and the mainstreaming of the far right: the “immigration issue” and the construction of a reactionary “people”. Politics.
Mondon, A. (2022b). Epistemologies of ignorance in far right studies: the invisibilisation of racism and whiteness in times of populist hype. Acta Politica.
Mondon, A. & Winter, A. (2020a). Reactionary Democracy: How racism and the populist far right became mainstream. London: Verso.
Mondon, A. & Winter, A. (2020b). From demonization to normalization: Reflecting on far right research. In S. D. Ashe, J. Busher, G. Macklin, A. Winter (eds.) Researching the Far Right: Theory, Method and Practice. Abingdon: Routledge.
Mudde, C. (2007). Populist radical right parties in Europe. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Newth, G. (2021). Rethinking “Nativism”: Beyond the ideational approach. Identities. Online first.
Rancière, J. (2005). La haine de la démocratie. Paris: La fabrique.
Rooduijn, M. (2018). State of the field: How to study populism and adjacent topics? A plea for both more and less focus. European Journal of Political Research, 58(1), 362-372.
Stavrakakis, Y., Katsambekis, G., Nikisianis, N., Kioupkiolis, A. and Siomos, T. (2018). Populism, anti-populism and crisis. Contemporary Political Theory, 17(1), 4-27.
Stavrakakis, Y., Katsambekis, G., Nikisianis, N., Kioupkiolis, A. and Siomos, T. (2017). Extreme right-wing populism in Europe: revisiting a reified association. Critical Discourse Studies, 14(4), 420-439.
Vergara, C. (2020). Populism as Plebeian Politics: Inequality, Domination, and Popular Empowerment. The Journal of Political Philosophy. 28(2), 222-246.
Zuberi, T. & Bonilla-Silva, E. (2008). White logic, White methods: Racism and methodology. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield.
Abstract
Full Text
Populism (studies) does not exist, but it still matters
Aurelien Mondon, University of Bath
Despite the provocative statement made in the title, the aim of this article is not to argue that populism (studies) does not exist or that it cannot be a useful concept, or that there may not be space for a lively field of populism studies to develop. Yet the argument developed here is that it is only possible if our understanding of populism serves a purpose such as helping us make better sense of the world around us. If, on the contrary, the term is used to obscure, deflect and divert attention away from processes of power formation and consolidation, then populism and populism studies do not exist: they are a simulacrum, a con. To explore these issues, I first (re)engage with the concept of ‘populist hype’ originally developed with Jason Glynos (2016) and apply it more precisely to academia. I then turn to one key contradiction in populism studies whereby definitional debates are both incredibly lively and yet often used to conceal power. In both sections, I explore the way in which populism has often been conflated with the far right, losing its explanatory power and legitimising such politics. Finally, I conclude with some reflections on the future of populism studies.
References
Albertazzi, D. and McDonnell, D. (2008). Twenty-First Century Populism: The Spectre of Western European Democracy. London: Palgrave.
Bale, T., van Kessel, S. & Taggart, P. (2011). Thrown around with abandon? Popular understandings of populism as conveyed by the print media: A UK case study. Acta Politica, 46, 111–131.
Bourdieu, P. (1973). L’opinion publique n’existe pas. Temps Moderne, 318, 1292-1309
Brown, K. and Mondon, A. (2021). Populism, the media, and the mainstreaming of the far right: The Guardian’s coverage of populism as a case study. Politics, 41(3), 279-295.
Brown, K. (2022). forthcoming. Talking ‘with’ and ‘about’ the far right: putting the mainstream in mainstreaming. PhD Thesis. Bath: University of Bath.
Collovald, A. (2004). Le populisme du FN: un dangereux contresens. Bellecombe-en-Bauges: Ed. Du Croquant.
Dean, J. and Maiguashca, B. (2020). Did somebody say populism? Towards a renewal and reorientation of populism studies. Journal of Political Ideologies, 25(1), 11-27.
De Cleen, B., Glynos, J. and Mondon, A. (2018). Critical research on populism: Nine rules of engagement. Organization, 25(5), 649-661.
De Cleen, B. & Glynos J. (2021). Beyond Populism Studies’, Journal of Language and Politics, 20(1), 178-195.
Eklundh, E. (2020). Excluding emotions: The performative function of populism. Partecipazione e Conflitto 13(1), 107-131.
Glynos, J. & Mondon, A. (2016). The Political Logic of Populist Hype: The Case of Right-Wing Populism’s ‘Meteoric Rise’ and Its Relation to the Status Quo. Populismus Working Paper Series, No. 4.
Goyvaerts, J. (2021). The Academic Voice in Media Debates on Populism. Populismus Working Papers, No. 12.
Goyvaerts, J., Brown, K., Mondon, A., De Cleen, B. and Glynos, J. (2023 forthcoming). On the Politics of ‘Populism’: The Case of Populist Hype. In Katsambekis, G. and Stavrakakis, Y. (eds.) Elgar Research Handbook on Populism. Cheltenham: Elgar.
Hunger, S. and Paxton, F. (2021). What’s in a buzzword? A systematic review of the state of populism research in political science. Political Science Research and Methods, online first.
Karavasilis, L. (2022). Populism and Other -Isms: Comparing left- and right-wing populism in Greece and Germany.Doctoral thesis. Loughborough: Loughborough University.
Katsambekis, G. (2016). The populist surge in post-democratic times: Theoretical and political challenges. The Political Quarterly, 88(2), 1–9.
Katsambekis, G. (2020). Constructing ‘the people’ of populism: a critique of the ideational approach from a discursive perspective. Journal of Political Ideologies, 27(1), 53-74.
Kim, S. (2021). Taking stock of the field of populism research: Are ideational approaches ‘moralistic’ and post-foundational discursive approaches ‘normative’?. Politics, online first.
Lentin, A. (2020). Why Race Still Matters. Cambridge: Polity Press.
Maiguashca, B. (2019). Resisting the ‘populist hype’: a feminist critique of a globalising concept. Review of International Studies, 45(5), 768-785.
Mondon, A. (2015). ‘Populism, the people and the illusion of democracy: the Front National and UKIP in a comparative context’, French Politics, 13(2):141–156.
Mondon, A. (2022a). Populism, public opinion and the mainstreaming of the far right: the “immigration issue” and the construction of a reactionary “people”. Politics.
Mondon, A. (2022b). Epistemologies of ignorance in far right studies: the invisibilisation of racism and whiteness in times of populist hype. Acta Politica.
Mondon, A. & Winter, A. (2020a). Reactionary Democracy: How racism and the populist far right became mainstream. London: Verso.
Mondon, A. & Winter, A. (2020b). From demonization to normalization: Reflecting on far right research. In S. D. Ashe, J. Busher, G. Macklin, A. Winter (eds.) Researching the Far Right: Theory, Method and Practice. Abingdon: Routledge.
Mudde, C. (2007). Populist radical right parties in Europe. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Newth, G. (2021). Rethinking “Nativism”: Beyond the ideational approach. Identities. Online first.
Rancière, J. (2005). La haine de la démocratie. Paris: La fabrique.
Rooduijn, M. (2018). State of the field: How to study populism and adjacent topics? A plea for both more and less focus. European Journal of Political Research, 58(1), 362-372.
Stavrakakis, Y., Katsambekis, G., Nikisianis, N., Kioupkiolis, A. and Siomos, T. (2018). Populism, anti-populism and crisis. Contemporary Political Theory, 17(1), 4-27.
Stavrakakis, Y., Katsambekis, G., Nikisianis, N., Kioupkiolis, A. and Siomos, T. (2017). Extreme right-wing populism in Europe: revisiting a reified association. Critical Discourse Studies, 14(4), 420-439.
Vergara, C. (2020). Populism as Plebeian Politics: Inequality, Domination, and Popular Empowerment. The Journal of Political Philosophy. 28(2), 222-246.
Zuberi, T. & Bonilla-Silva, E. (2008). White logic, White methods: Racism and methodology. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield.
Abstract
Full Text
Populism (studies) does not exist, but it still matters
Aurelien Mondon, University of Bath
Despite the provocative statement made in the title, the aim of this article is not to argue that populism (studies) does not exist or that it cannot be a useful concept, or that there may not be space for a lively field of populism studies to develop. Yet the argument developed here is that it is only possible if our understanding of populism serves a purpose such as helping us make better sense of the world around us. If, on the contrary, the term is used to obscure, deflect and divert attention away from processes of power formation and consolidation, then populism and populism studies do not exist: they are a simulacrum, a con. To explore these issues, I first (re)engage with the concept of ‘populist hype’ originally developed with Jason Glynos (2016) and apply it more precisely to academia. I then turn to one key contradiction in populism studies whereby definitional debates are both incredibly lively and yet often used to conceal power. In both sections, I explore the way in which populism has often been conflated with the far right, losing its explanatory power and legitimising such politics. Finally, I conclude with some reflections on the future of populism studies.
References
Albertazzi, D. and McDonnell, D. (2008). Twenty-First Century Populism: The Spectre of Western European Democracy. London: Palgrave.
Bale, T., van Kessel, S. & Taggart, P. (2011). Thrown around with abandon? Popular understandings of populism as conveyed by the print media: A UK case study. Acta Politica, 46, 111–131.
Bourdieu, P. (1973). L’opinion publique n’existe pas. Temps Moderne, 318, 1292-1309
Brown, K. and Mondon, A. (2021). Populism, the media, and the mainstreaming of the far right: The Guardian’s coverage of populism as a case study. Politics, 41(3), 279-295.
Brown, K. (2022). forthcoming. Talking ‘with’ and ‘about’ the far right: putting the mainstream in mainstreaming. PhD Thesis. Bath: University of Bath.
Collovald, A. (2004). Le populisme du FN: un dangereux contresens. Bellecombe-en-Bauges: Ed. Du Croquant.
Dean, J. and Maiguashca, B. (2020). Did somebody say populism? Towards a renewal and reorientation of populism studies. Journal of Political Ideologies, 25(1), 11-27.
De Cleen, B., Glynos, J. and Mondon, A. (2018). Critical research on populism: Nine rules of engagement. Organization, 25(5), 649-661.
De Cleen, B. & Glynos J. (2021). Beyond Populism Studies’, Journal of Language and Politics, 20(1), 178-195.
Eklundh, E. (2020). Excluding emotions: The performative function of populism. Partecipazione e Conflitto 13(1), 107-131.
Glynos, J. & Mondon, A. (2016). The Political Logic of Populist Hype: The Case of Right-Wing Populism’s ‘Meteoric Rise’ and Its Relation to the Status Quo. Populismus Working Paper Series, No. 4.
Goyvaerts, J. (2021). The Academic Voice in Media Debates on Populism. Populismus Working Papers, No. 12.
Goyvaerts, J., Brown, K., Mondon, A., De Cleen, B. and Glynos, J. (2023 forthcoming). On the Politics of ‘Populism’: The Case of Populist Hype. In Katsambekis, G. and Stavrakakis, Y. (eds.) Elgar Research Handbook on Populism. Cheltenham: Elgar.
Hunger, S. and Paxton, F. (2021). What’s in a buzzword? A systematic review of the state of populism research in political science. Political Science Research and Methods, online first.
Karavasilis, L. (2022). Populism and Other -Isms: Comparing left- and right-wing populism in Greece and Germany.Doctoral thesis. Loughborough: Loughborough University.
Katsambekis, G. (2016). The populist surge in post-democratic times: Theoretical and political challenges. The Political Quarterly, 88(2), 1–9.
Katsambekis, G. (2020). Constructing ‘the people’ of populism: a critique of the ideational approach from a discursive perspective. Journal of Political Ideologies, 27(1), 53-74.
Kim, S. (2021). Taking stock of the field of populism research: Are ideational approaches ‘moralistic’ and post-foundational discursive approaches ‘normative’?. Politics, online first.
Lentin, A. (2020). Why Race Still Matters. Cambridge: Polity Press.
Maiguashca, B. (2019). Resisting the ‘populist hype’: a feminist critique of a globalising concept. Review of International Studies, 45(5), 768-785.
Mondon, A. (2015). ‘Populism, the people and the illusion of democracy: the Front National and UKIP in a comparative context’, French Politics, 13(2):141–156.
Mondon, A. (2022a). Populism, public opinion and the mainstreaming of the far right: the “immigration issue” and the construction of a reactionary “people”. Politics.
Mondon, A. (2022b). Epistemologies of ignorance in far right studies: the invisibilisation of racism and whiteness in times of populist hype. Acta Politica.
Mondon, A. & Winter, A. (2020a). Reactionary Democracy: How racism and the populist far right became mainstream. London: Verso.
Mondon, A. & Winter, A. (2020b). From demonization to normalization: Reflecting on far right research. In S. D. Ashe, J. Busher, G. Macklin, A. Winter (eds.) Researching the Far Right: Theory, Method and Practice. Abingdon: Routledge.
Mudde, C. (2007). Populist radical right parties in Europe. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Newth, G. (2021). Rethinking “Nativism”: Beyond the ideational approach. Identities. Online first.
Rancière, J. (2005). La haine de la démocratie. Paris: La fabrique.
Rooduijn, M. (2018). State of the field: How to study populism and adjacent topics? A plea for both more and less focus. European Journal of Political Research, 58(1), 362-372.
Stavrakakis, Y., Katsambekis, G., Nikisianis, N., Kioupkiolis, A. and Siomos, T. (2018). Populism, anti-populism and crisis. Contemporary Political Theory, 17(1), 4-27.
Stavrakakis, Y., Katsambekis, G., Nikisianis, N., Kioupkiolis, A. and Siomos, T. (2017). Extreme right-wing populism in Europe: revisiting a reified association. Critical Discourse Studies, 14(4), 420-439.
Vergara, C. (2020). Populism as Plebeian Politics: Inequality, Domination, and Popular Empowerment. The Journal of Political Philosophy. 28(2), 222-246.
Zuberi, T. & Bonilla-Silva, E. (2008). White logic, White methods: Racism and methodology. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield.