module specification

The aim of this module is to introduce students to the concept and phenomenon of populism, perhaps the most talked-about topic in politics currently. is often used in a derogatory way to discredit opponents, while those considered as populists usually deny the characterization. Today, seemingly everybody and nobody is a ‘populist’.

Does it make sense to use this concept at all? How does populism help us understand important developments across the world–Trump, Brexit, Euroscepticism, the rise of Bolsonaro in Brazil and Modi in India? Although many associate populism with the far right and racist and patriarchal politics, can we also use populism to describe new modes of emancipatory mobilization like BLM protests? Is populism only an expression of ‘white angry men’ or can it be combined with feminism?

Populism is commonly associated with a divisive discourse, empty promises, reckless economic spending, personalistic leadership, and opposition to immigrants and international institutions like the EU. But contrary to these largely negative connotations of populism, there are other understandings in the literature that highlight its radical, emancipatory, democratic and inclusive character. Populism is also seen as a way to unite people ignored by the political system, and to challenge elites and vested interests.

The aims of the module are threefold:
- You will learn about the main understandings of populism in the literature, its different meanings and ways it is used in current political discourse.
- You will be able to see populism as a truly de-colonized global concept, going beyond West-centric perspectives of representative democracy
-  You will learn about expressions of populism in all major world regions (Europe, Americas, Africa, Asia), developing important skills of comparative research.

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The syllabus will include:

1. Populism and democracy; what does it mean to live under a democracy; populism as a democratic critique of democracy itself (LO 1, 2)

2. Different perspectives of populism; populism as ideology, strategy, style, discourse. A critical perspective of populism’s role in a democracy: threat or corrective? (LO 1, 2, 5)

3. Populism and its interactions with race, gender and post-colonialism: A power or reaction or emancipation? (LO 1, 2, 3, 6)

4. Populism across the world; left and right expression; Europe, Asia, the US, Latin America, Africa (LO 4, 6)

5. What future for our democracies? (LO 1, 4, 5, 6)

Teaching comprises weekly classes involving lectures and seminars. Lectures present theories and facts, and seminar discussions allow students to reflect and critically engage with them.

Reflective and independent learning is encouraged through research and writing of an essay assessment, interactive lectures and seminar debates.

The module comprises a novel activity: students watching a number of films that depict in different ways populist politics and reflecting on them and using them to understand populism better.

Beyond the film-watching activity, the module makes extensive use of blended learning through Weblearn, interactive use of the mail and discussion tools, PowerPoint slides and full reading lists.

This module provides students with a range of opportunities to enhance their employability by developing critical, writing and presentation skills.

Students will be required to attend all classes, to engage in the set activities, to prepare in advance by attempting assigned readings, to complete coursework by deadlines, and to reflect and act on the feedback they receive.

On successful completion of this module, you will have gained:

1. A good understanding of the main theoretical approaches to the concept of populism and the views of key scholars

2. A good understanding of the causes considered to bring about the rise of populism in different contexts

3. Exposure to critical perspectives in the study of populism, linking it to dimensions of race, ethnicity and gender that are usually underexplored in the literature

4. Knowledge of different forms of populism in various world regions and historical periods, including an understanding of what the rise of populism says about the challenges representative democracy faces today, in the West as well as the Global South.

Film watching and group presentation (30% of final mark): Each group will watch one of the designated movies that deal with the lives of a famous real or fictitious populist leader. In their group presentations they must discuss the plot of the movie; whether and in what way are the characters populist; how they achieved power and what they did to keep it. Presentations will take place in weeks 6-9.

Individual essay presentation (20% of final mark): Each student will present the preliminary work they have done on their essay topic, particularly by reflecting on the core questions of the module: who is and who is not a populist, under what conditions does populism emerge, and what does this mean for the future of a democratic system. Presentations will take place in weeks 10-11.

Final essay (50% of final mark): Each student will discuss a specific case of populist leader or movement with reference to the main questions of the module, discuss how the ‘people’ was defined and mobilized, and assess the impact of this movement on the political system of its country. Essays will be due in week 13.

https://rl.talis.com/3/londonmet/lists/6CA37EE4-DF41-23D2-7E01-5837DAE2611E.html

Useful online resource: https://populism.byu.edu/