300151 Understanding right-wing populism (S) (WiSe 2026/2027)

For some time now, social scientists have held the view that we are currently experiencing a “populist moment” (Mouffe 2018), characterized by a “populist zeitgeist” (Mudde 2004). The origins of this moment have been traced back to the 1980s. Particularly in Europe and North America, it is commonly associated with the rise of right-wing parties and with the dangers of a regression or “backsliding” of democracy – the rise of autocratic regimes and the erosion of democratic rules and procedures. But what are the defining characteristics of “right-wing populism”? To what extent does it differ from “normal” right-wing politics, from the “radical right,” and from “right-wing extremism” – and to what extent is it connected to them? And how can we understand the dangers it poses to liberal democracy?

This course approaches such questions from a sociological and global perspective. It is based on the observations that the “moment” of right-wing populism (1) is in fact no longer a moment, but a long-term trend that has been emerging for several decades, (2) is not limited to Europe or North America, and (3) can only be understood in relation to other forms of politics, particularly left-wing populism. To understand it, therefore, a comparative sociological approach is needed that views populism as a kind of “stylistic and discursive repertoire” (Brubaker 2017) with a long history, transnational reach, and ideological flexibility. This perspective can be combined with insights from sociology and globalization theory to compare case studies and help explain the long-term rise and persistence of right-wing populism.

The course is divided into three parts: The first part focuses on fundamental conceptual issues; in the second part, we discuss a selection of empirical case studies from the current literature on right-wing populism; in the third part, participants are invited to contribute their own interests and to use the classroom discussions to develop ideas for term papers or master’s theses.

Requirements for participation, required level

This seminar builds on my course “Sociology of Populism” from the summer semester of 2026; having taken that course may be helpful, but it is not a mandatory prerequisite.

Bibliography

- Bobbio, Norberto (1996): Left and Right. The Significance of a Political Distinction, Chicago: University of Chicago Press
- Brubaker, Rogers (2017): Why Populism? Theory & Society 46: 357-385
- Johnston, Hank, Rory McVeigh and Ziad Munson (Eds.) (2026): Right-wing Movements in North America and Europe, London; New York: Routledge.
- Mouffe, Chantal (2018): For a Left Populism, London; New York: Verso
- Mudde, Cas (2004): The Populist Zeitgeist, Government and Opposition 39 (4): 541-563
- Mudde, Cas (2010) The Populist Radical Right: A Pathological Normalcy, West European Politics 33 (6): 1167-1186
- Novais, Rui Alexandre and Rogério Christofoletti (Eds.) (2025): The Palgrave Handbook on Right-Wing Populism and Otherness in Global Perspective, London: Palgrave MacMillan
- Stavrakakis, Yannis, Giorgos Katsampekis, Nikos Nikisianis, Alexandros Kioupkiolis, and Thomas Siomos (2019): Extreme Right-wing Populism in Europe: Revisiting a Reified Association. figshare. https://hdl.handle.net/2134/31990