300150 Sociology of Populism (MA: Soziologische Theorie) (S) (SoSe 2026)

What is populism and how does it work? Isn't it perfectly normal for parties in democracies to seek popular support for their political ideas? But what distinguishes “populism,” as discussed in social science and historical literature, from normal party politics? Who uses the term and for what reasons? What are the characteristics of populism, what dangers are associated with it, but also: what is its potential and what opportunities could it offer? Does populism primarily occur as “right-wing populism” or is there also “left-wing populism” and perhaps other variants?
In this seminar, we will discuss such questions using classic and current literature on populism, as well as a series of examples that we will select together at the beginning of the seminar and to which we will return repeatedly in order to understand the texts more precisely and discuss them in concrete terms. Participants are therefore cordially invited to influence the course of the seminar with their own interests in specific manifestations of populism.

Bibliography

Stavrakis, Yannis & Giorgos Katsambekis (Eds.): Research Handbook on Populism, Cheltenham: Edward Elgar, 2024