Politics

Populism and Politics

Module code: M1535
Level 6
30 credits in spring semester
Teaching method: Seminar
Assessment modes: Dissertation

Populism is a widely used term in politics, but is rarely conceptualised in political science.

You’ll explore the phenomenon of populism and its relationship to politics, particularly to representative politics. You’ll consider the meaning, cause and effects of populism in a systematic and comparative way. You will examine populism of the right and the left, looking at a wide range of disparate cases from different parts of the world. 

In the first part of the module you will look at examples of populist movements, moments, personalities and parties – including Russia, North America, Latin America and Europe.

In the second part you will examine the conceptualisation of populism and engage with debates about how to define populism.

You’ll be able to develop interests in a small number of cases whilst clarifying your position on the wider conceptual debates regarding populism.

Module learning outcomes

• Identify a topic suitable for research relating to populism
• Plan and carry out a research project relating to populism which sustains a line of argument
• Locate and evaluate a range of resources approriate to a topic on populism
• Make use of constructive feedback on the development of their ideas in the implementation of a research topic related to populism