Populism is a powerful force today, but its full scope has eluded the analytical tools of both orthodox and heterodox 'populism studies.' This book provides a valuable alternative perspective. It reconstructs in detail for the first time the compares these with contemporary approaches. Modern demagogy emerges as a key under-researched feature of populism, since populist movements, whether 'left' or 'right', are highly susceptible to 'demagogic capture'.
The book also details the culture industry's populist contradictions - including its role as an incubator of modern demagogues - from the 1920s through to today's social media and 'Trumpian psychotechnics'. Featuring a previously unpublished text by Adorno on modern demagogy as an appendix, it will be of interest to everyone concerned about the rise of demagogic populism today.
By:
Paul K. Jones
Imprint: Manchester University Press
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions:
Height: 234mm,
Width: 156mm,
Spine: 17mm
ISBN: 9781526123435
ISBN 10: 1526123436
Series: Critical Theory and Contemporary Society
Pages: 288
Publication Date: 03 November 2020
Audience:
College/higher education
,
Professional and scholarly
,
Primary
,
Undergraduate
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active
Part I: Critically theorising demagogic populism 1 Introduction: from orthodox ‘populism studies’ to critical theory 2 The Institute’s analysis of ‘modern demagogy’ 3 Expanding the reach of the Institute’s analysis 4 Gramscian analyses of fascism and populism: Poulantzas, Laclau, Hall 5 Towards a synthesis of critical perspectives Part II: Populist contradictions of the culture industry 6 Cultural populisms and culture industry 7 Counter-demagogic popular art: towards a selective tradition Excursus: an outline of Trumpian psychotechnics 8 Structural transformations of demagogic populism Appendix: Theodore Adorno, Introduction to Prophets of Deceit Index -- .
Paul K. Jones is Reader in Sociology in the Research School of Social Sciences at the Australian National University.
Reviews for Critical Theory and Demagogic Populism
'As a piece of intellectual history reconstructing the development of critical theory's engagement with the study of demagogic populism, this is a superb piece of work. Its deep understanding of the history closely informs and enables its critical work on the varieties of theoretical responses to populism.' David Owen, Professor of Social and Political Philosophy, University of Southampton -- .
