Dirk Jörke: Vom Verdammen zum Verstehen? Neuerscheinungen zum Populismus

Abstract

From Damnation to Understanding? New Publications on Populism
Populism is on the rise. Accordingly, populism has become a major topic in social sciences and in
political theory. This essay discusses a selection of recent publications on the topic. In doing so,
three goals are pursued. Firstly, recent empirical studies indicate that there is a problem of a clear
positioning of populism on the left-right axis, as more and more populist parties adopt formerly leftist
positions like a strong welfare state. Secondly, the essay attempts to criticise a purely normative
confrontation with populism that for example dominates the discussion in Germany. Thirdly, it is
argued that in order to fight populism one has to overcome an implicit complicity of economic and
cultural liberalism.

Besprochen werden u. a.: Abromeit, J. u. a. (Hrsg.): Transformations of Populism in Europe and the Americas (83); De la Torre, C. (Hrsg.): The Promise and Perils of Populism (86); Decker, F./Henningsen, B./Jakobsen, K. (Hrsg.): Rechtspopulismus und Rechtsextremismus in Europa (76); Geiges, L./Marg, S./Walter, F.: Pegida (74); Häusler, A. (Hrsg.): Die Alternative für Deutschland (72); Kriesi, H./Pappas, T. S. (Hrsg.): European Populism in the Shadow of the Great Recession (80); Michéa, J.-C.: Das Reich des kleineren Übels (92); Müller, J.-W.: Was ist Populismus? (88); Saint-Victor, J. de: Die Antipolitischen (91); Tormey, S.: Vom Ende der repräsentativen Politik (90); Vorländer, H./Herold, M./Schäller, S.: PEGIDA (73)