K2SP 3930 - Populism and Democracy in Comparative Perspective

Populism has become a widely debated and well-researched theme. The term is often ill-defined and used in a pejorative manner, contributing to misconceptions and inaccurate interpretations of what is populism and, more importantly, what it is not.

The course is research-oriented and will introduce participants to an extensive conceptual, theoretical and empirical scholarship on populism. This will provide participants with a more precise understanding of the concept and allow for consideration of the various ways we can examine populism. Building on this, the course discusses instances of populism in various contexts and reflects on the ambivalent relationship between populism and democracy.

Throughout this discussion, the course explicitly takes a comparative approach and relies both on quantitative and qualitative analyses in support of its discussions. Special attention will be paid to the core features of populism, such as anti-elitism and popular sovereignty, as well as its causes and consequences for democratic functioning. In a time of increasing challenges to the core components of representative democracy, this course provides an introduction to populism in theory and practice, employing an increasingly consensual ideational approach to populism. It introduces participants to an extensive conceptual debate, historical and current populist forces, their characteristics, causes and consequences, as well as the often-ambivalent relationship between populism and democracy.

Assignment 1

Engagement 20%

Everyone will be expected to participate in class, including through brief class exercises.

Sessions will involve discussing the readings, group exercises, hands-on practical sessions,

report presentations, case studies, and debates about controversial issues. To be able to

actively participate in class, students will have to read the assigned texts in advance of each

session. In reading the texts, students should not try to memorise all details. Rather, they

should focus on the key arguments put forward. Please note that participation contributes to

the overall flow of and a good dynamic in both the lectures and the seminars. Additionally,

active participation is an essential component of any quality outputs and, by proxy, a good

grade.

Assignment 2

Coding exercise 1,000 Words 20%

Assignment 3

Leadership profile: 4,000 Words 60%