The transformative power of populism

Time: 14.00

Venue: Meeting Room, 2nd floor - Department of Sociology and Social Research

Seminar

The presentation will argue that an institutionalist analysis of right-wing populism in Italy and Turkey reveals – exactly because of the very different starting points of populist mobilization – the core characteristics of populism-in-government. It has to be regarded as personalistic political project directed against independent institutions rather than as a reflection of social conflicts. The presentatio will advance four claims. First, populism in government attacks the institutional independence of the judiciary and the media. Second, in the undermining of market mechanisms in the name of personalistic leadership, populism-in-government links to neopatrimonialism. Third, populist leaders de-institutionalize social representation and redefine political cleavages. Fourth, permissive and contested institutions have paved the way for the rise of populism.

Speaker: Joerg Baudner, Universität Osnabrück