Anthropology of Populism 3102-FAOP
This course explores the upsurge of populism in Europe and the Americas in the last few years. Taking an anthropological perspective, the course examines the appeal of populism to people who mobilize, vote for, protest and agitate for populist goals. There are important differences between right- and left-wing populism. Yes what unites them is the fact that they both appeal to 'the people', they draw a clear-cult distinction between 'the people' and the 'enemy', and they reject all forms of mediation in favor of direct communication between authoritarian leaders and their followers. The first part of the course discusses the main theories of populism in different disciplines; the second part of the course analyzes anthropological case studies especially from Europe and the Americas, and pays attention to the social practices, subjectivities, and cultural forms that characterize authoritarian populism as an inflexion of the democratic imaginary. At the core of the course is the question of whether recent expressions of populism may be understood by reference to 'classical' forms of populism that predate the neoliberal turn.
Type of course
Course coordinators
Learning outcomes
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
1. Understand the nature of populism from an anthropological and social science perspective;
2. Engage critically with the work of scholars in nationalism and populism and evaluate their arguments;
3. Demonstrate an advanced critical understanding of the key concepts and dominant theories related to nationalism and populism;
4. Achieve a B2+ level of English.
Assessment criteria
Evaluation is based on participation in class discussions, a class presentation, and a final (oral) exam.
Bibliography
Chatterjee, Partha (2019). I am the People: Reflections on Popular Sovereignty Today. New York: Columbia University Press.
Holmes, Douglas R. (2000). Integral Europe: Fast-capitalism, Multiculturalism, Neo-fascism. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
Laclau, Ernesto. (2005). On Populist Reason. London: Verso.
Mazzarella, William. (2019). The anthropology of populism: Beyond the liberal settlement. Annual Review of Anthropology 48: 45-60.
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: