Description
Book SynopsisThis important intervention interrogates keystone features of the dominant European theoretical landscape in the field of populism studies, advancing existing debates and introducing new avenues of thought, in conjunction with insights from the contemporary Latin American political experience and perspectives. In each essay – the title a nod to the influential socialist thinker José Carlos Mariátegui, from whom the authors draw inspiration – leading Argentine scholars Paula Biglieri and Luciana Cadahia pair key dimensions of populism with diverse themes such as modern-day feminism, militancy, and neoliberalism, in order to stimulate discussion surrounding the constitutive nature, goals, and potential of populist social movements.
Biglieri and Cadahia are unafraid to court provocation in their frank assessment of populism as a force which could bring about essential emancipatory social change to confront emerging right-wing trends in policy and leadership. At the same time, this fresh interpretation of a much-maligned political articulation is balanced by their denunciation of right-aligned populisms and their failure to bring to bear a sustainable alternative to contemporary neo-authoritarian forms of neoliberalism. In their place, they articulate a populism which offers a viable means of mobilizing a response to hegemonic forms of neoliberal discourse and government.
Trade Review“Debates on populism are currently facing a huge challenge: to move beyond obsolete euro-centric and post-democratic myths and stereotypes. Biglieri and Cadahia demonstrate that a strong comparative angle can greatly assist in this effort and that the Latin American experience is crucial for a much-needed reorientation towards a truly reflexive discussion of populism. Yet, this book cannot be reduced to one more micro-scale social-scientific analysis from a “local” perspective. This is rigorous theoretical reflection & committed democratic argumentation at its best!”
Yannis Stavrakakis, Aristotle University of ThessalonikiTable of ContentsForeword — Wendy Brown
Introduction
Essay 1. The Secret of Populism
The returns of populism
Modernization, class struggle, and the constitutive dimension of the political
Populism as ontology of the political
Essay 2. Neither Left nor Right: Populism without Apology
Populism, left and right?
Is all populism right-wing?
Just populism
Populism without apology
Essay 3. Against Neoliberal Fascism: From Sacrificial Identity to Egalitarian Singularity
Is populism a form of neoliberalism?
The prejudices of the anti-communist liberal left
Autonomism: opium of the people
Populism as transitional object?
Populism: antithesis of neoliberalism
Essay 4. Profaning the Public: The Plebeian Dimension of Republican Populism
Is populism anti-institutionalist?
Ruptural institutionality
Plebeian republicanism
Republican populism?
Essay 5. Toward an Internationalist Populism
The beautiful souls of pure causes
The people and its leader
Toward an internationalist populism
Essay 6. The Absent Cause of Populist Militancy
Post-foundationalism and the absence of guarantees
Neither the cemetery nor the madhouse
The three militant questions
Essay 7. We Populists are Feminists
Let’s imagine the future
Feminism without identitarian closure
Populist feminism (or the antagonism of care)
Feminist populism (or the homeland is the other)
Bibliography
Notes
Index
