Category: Mudde

Interview #62 – 20 Years of Populist Zeitgeist with Cas Mudde

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One of the most iconic pieces of academic literature on populism celebrates its 20th anniversary since publication. We’re referring to “The Populist Zeitgeist”, Cas Mudde’s paper published by Government & Opposition in 2004. Since then, it has been cited thousands of times and has established itself as a guiding light for scholars in need of a definition of populism.

Without “The Populist Zeitgeist” this blog would probably not exist. But what arguments are developed beyond the definition of populism in the paper? What does the author think of it two decades after its publication? How has “The Populist Zeitgeist” aged so far? How has the field of populism studies evolved since 2004? POP asked all these questions, and more to Cas Mudde himself. Along the way, you’ll see mentions of Ernesto Laclau, Margaret Canovan, Peter Mair, Donald Trump, Robert Plant, and many others.

Enjoy the read…

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Interview #22: Populism in Western Europe ain’t no domino effect

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In this long and insightful interview Léonie de Jonge explains why populism is so successful and widespread in certain countries or regions while it is stigmatized or unsuccessful in others; the (few) similarities and (many) differences between the radical right-wing populist parties in Europe; details about cases such as France, Germany, Luxemburg, the Netherlands, or Portugal;  last but not least she warns against the dangers of #schmopulism.

Enjoy the read.

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Transnational Left-Wing Populism: A Response to Trump’s Victory (?)

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In this article, Panos Panayotu* introduces the concept of transnational left-wing populism and explains why it is a necessary answer to Donald Trump’s victory. Following Ernesto Laclau and Chantal Mouffe, he provides a brief overview about the advantages of a populist movement which goes beyond national boundaries and that provides an alternative approach to globalization.

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Interview #7 – A talk with Cas Mudde on American and European Populism

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trump tower.jpg

Trump Tower in Chicago – April 2016

POP interviewed Prof. Cas Mudde about populism in the US and Europe, the presence (or rather absence) of populism in the current American Presidential campaign, and the conditions triggering different types of populism in the Old continent.

Are “the people” and “the elites” relevant categories in the discourses articulated by Trump and Sanders?

The economic crisis, combined with terrorist threats and a constant flow of migrants create a widespread fear among the European electorate: which political actors benefit from this situation?

These and other issues on the interview with Prof. Mudde.

Enjoy…

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