The media and political analysts warn us of a "populist zeitgeist" - that populists are on the rise worldwide and are undermining the political systems of liberal democracy. But what are we actually talking about when we talk about populism? It is said that the new, rising political forces are a symptom of profound economic inequalities, of a sense of powerlessness among ordinary citizens. But why then does this populist zeitgeist seem to be centred around identity, migration, xenophobia, anti-gender, homophobic attitudes and nationalism - rather than social justice, jobs, wages and redistribution? Who are "the people" that the right-wing populist actors supposedly represent? And who are "the elites" that they are attacking? Is there a need for left-wing populism? And in what similar or different ways is this new populism unfolding in America, Europe and Russia?
Salome Asatiani, correspondent at Radio Free Europe, talks about this with the Polish-Belgian philosopher and researcher Alicja Gescinska and the Ukrainian political scientist and fascism researcher Anton Shekhovtsov.
Moderation: Salome Asatiani
Language: English und German
Reihe: 2. Literaturfestival Stuttgart
Tickets: 20 / 10 / 5 EURO
Tickets and further information at: Populismus: eine Auseinandersetzung / Alicja Gescinska, Anton Shekhovtsov | Literaturhaus Stuttgart
The project is funded by the city of Stuttgart.
ifa – Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen promotes a peaceful and enriching coexistence between people and cultures worldwide. ifa supports artistic and cultural exchange in exhibition, dialogue and conference programmes, and it acts as a centre of excellence for international cultural relations. It is part of a global network and relies on sustainable, long-term partnerships. ifa is supported by the Federal Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany, the state of Baden-Württemberg and its capital Stuttgart.
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