The populist manifesto: understanding the spectre of populism

This volume brings together a range of scholars dissatisfied with the mainstream of the populism debate. It intends to bring forward a perspective which envisions populism not simply as a negative aspect of politics, but as a way of doing politics. Contemporary politics has been characterised by the overarching presence of populism, while simultaneously engendering a sense of fear and extremism around the results of populist movements. This collection intends to unpack the true potential for movements from and by the people, linking these historically and offering a new lens for thinking about contemporary populism. What can we learn from recent events? How can these lessons inform how we think about politics for the future? Offering this approach, from the perspective of populist potential, will help us answer these questions and open the debate with contributors from countries or regions that have a tradition of populism, privileging them with a deeper understanding. -- Provided by publisher Cover The Populist Manifesto The Populist Manifesto Copyright page Contents Introduction Chapter 1 Populism The emerging consensus around ‘what is populism?’ Populism, crisis and transition Left-wing and right-wing Populism’s others: Non- and anti- Bibliographical notes Chapter 2 Populism and Myth The political effectiveness of storytelling The function of myths in political discourse The dual hero: Leader and people Punching upward/punching downward Conclusion Bibliographical notes Notes Chapter 3 Populism and the Politics of Control Control and sovereignty Globalisation and loss of control Control and psychology Uses of control Bibliographical notes Chapter 4 Ten Theses on Populism – and Democracy 1. Populism is PERFORMATIVE AND not easily defined 2. POPULISM, JUST LIKE NATIONALISM, HAS a Janus-face 3. Populism relates to DEMOCRACY, not demography 4. Populism’s tendentially empty core relates to the ethos of democracy 5. Populism can be reduced into a formula 6. Populism occurs in moments 7. Populism is not the goal but the means of politics 8. Populist dynamics reveal variation 9. Competing populisms sustain themselves as a basis of polarisation 10. Populism is spatial: Space and people co-constitute one another Bibliographical notes Chapter 5 Why Populists Aren’t Mad Emotions as threats to democracy Is populism a democratic anomaly? Salvaging emotions (and maybe democracy?) Conclusion Bibliographical notes Chapter 6 Populism, Democracy and the Transnational People Democracy and populism Transnationalism, democracy and populism Bibliographical notes Chapter 7 Left Populism as a Political Project Theoretical misconceptions around populism Left- versus right-wing populism Biographical notes Notes Chapter 8 A Manifesto and Populism? Left and right (populism) Pluralism and the people Antagonism Supply and DEMAND Bibliographical notes Index