The Populist Style

Trump, Le Pen and Performances of the Far Right

Theo Aiolfi

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Hardback

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English

Edinburgh University Press
13 May 2025

Political science & theory; Conservatism & right-of-centre democratic ideologies; Nationalism; Central government policies; Diplomacy

Through a comparative case study analysing the 2016 and 2017 presidential campaigns of Donald Trump and Marine Le Pen, The Populist Style examines the links between far-right ideology and populism. Adopting an interdisciplinary framework combining political science and performance studies, this book develops a critical definition of populism as a style, that is, as a repertoire of political performances that shapes and is given shape by ideological content.

The book argues that the populist style relies on three clusters of performances: performances of identity, performances of transgression and performances of crisis. Through an analysis of a corpus including presidential debates, speeches during rallies and political advertisements drawn from the campaigns of Trump and Le Pen, this book shows the adaptability of the populist style and its relevance as discursive-performative strategy across two different national contexts as it was used by far-right political actors to make their reactionary agenda and exclusionary nationalism more appealing.

By: Theo Aiolfi
Imprint: Edinburgh University Press
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 234mm, Width: 156mm,
ISBN: 9781399537414
ISBN 10: 1399537415
Pages: 266
Publication Date: 13 May 2025
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

Théo Aiolfi is a Junior Professor at the University of Burgundy, as part of the Centre Interlangues Texte, Image, Langage. He is also an associate researcher of the research group Echo: Media, Culture and Politics at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB). His research interests include populism, performativity, style and politics as performance, with a focus on far-right politics and political leadership.

Reviews for The Populist Style: Trump, Le Pen and Performances of the Far Right

By taking political style seriously Th�o Aiolfi makes visible the various elements of right-wing populist politics and its success, with clarity, rigour and an innovative methodology and analysis. This timely book will appeal to those interested in the rise of right-wing populism and its seductions - what appeals to the those voting for populist leaders, and how the performances of leaders can bridge class and gender differences to become normalised.--Shirin Rai, SOAS University of London Imaginative, conceptually innovative, empirically rigorous and beautifully written, Theo Aiolfi's The Populist Style pushes the study of populism forward into exciting new arenas. Taking performance and style seriously, this outstanding work of interdisciplinarity and originality helps make sense of a time when populism has gone mainstream. Highly recommended.--Benjamin Moffitt, Australian Catholic University