Is populism the unsurpassable horizon of our own time or is it a temptation that should at all costs be resisted? Who, and to what end, does the jargon of populism serve?

To answer these questions, Alexander Stagnell, Gustav Strandberg, David Payne, and their contributors trace the socio-historical significance of the concept of 'The People' in western philosophy and its relationship to the trend of populist politics today. Bringing together scholars from the fields of aesthetics, critical, cultural and political theory, philosophy, and rhetoric, this volume critically explores the issues facing contemporary society today.

With an international team of authors, each chapter speaks to a range of contexts recently affected by populism today, including Sweden, Brazil, Germany, Austria, France, and the UK. As political and economic establishments face a crisis of legitimacy, Populism and The People in Contemporary Critical Thought reveals the shaky foundations on which the concept of 'The People' rests. Engaging with critical theory, feminist theory, Marxism, phenomenology, and psychoanalysis, this collection highlights how 'The People' comes to stand in for both belonging and exclusion, enabling us to see the uses and abuses of such terminology as pressing theoretical and political concerns.

Critical history of the concept of 'The People' in contemporary political thought, philosophy, and aesthetics.

About the Author

Alexander Stagnell is Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Rhetoric at the Free University of Brussels (ULB), Belgium.
David Payne has a PhD in Political Theory, and lectures and researches at Soedertoern University. He is also International Research Editor for Soedertoern University, Sweden.
Gustav Strandberg is Senior Lecturer in Philosophy at Soedertoern University, Sweden.

Reviews
If critical thought can be briefly defined as the activity of unravelling the different scopes of power relationships, this collection of articles draws this task to its ultimate consequences. The people alongside populism-key political categories for the debate of our time-are scrutinised in a variety of dimensions making this book an indispensable read. * Paula Biglieri, Professor of Political Theory, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina *
This refreshing volume brings together insights from different strands of thought in the humanities and social sciences to explore the notion of 'the people', its significance for democracy, and its relation to populism. Grounded in political philosophy, affective theory, aesthetics, and political theory, it provides a great springboard for critical reflexivity and interdisciplinary dialogue in the field. * Giorgos Katsambekis, Researcher in Comparative Politics, National Centre for Social Research (EKKE), Greece *



Book Information
ISBN 9781350185289
Author Alexander Stagnell
Format Paperback
Page Count 264
Imprint Bloomsbury Academic
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Weight(grams) 440g
Dimensions(mm) 232mm * 152mm * 16mm