Faced with a variety of forms and the trivialization of its usage, the concept of populism has been criticized and refined. Should scholars abandon it when qualifying parties as diverse as the French National Rally, the Italian Five Star Movement, or the Hungarian Fidesz? Should scientists consider these manifestations of populism as a political style?

DEMOS and its consortium member Centre for Research on Mediations (CREM, University of Lorraine) will explore pressing questions about populism and discuss results stemming from the DEMOS project in France, Italy, and Hungary in a face-to-face study day event on 30 May 2022. Registration is required and free of charge to attend the event, which will be held in French and English. Read more about the programme and registration below.

DEMOS speakers

Nicolas Hubé, leader of the DEMOS team in France and organiser of the study day, with Martin Baloge (University of Lorraine) will examine explore categories of populist political parties such as La France Insoumise (Untamed France) and the National Rally.

Zsolt Boda, leader of the DEMOS project from the Centre for Social Sciences in Budapest, will discuss the idea of populist governance, based on a scientific paper about Hungary.

Umut Korkut (Glasgow Caledonian University), assesses how minorities have been targeted by populist politics. The results are based on a Europe-wide DEMOS study, released in September.

Artur Lipinski (Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan), discusses populist communication based on a study by DEMOS which found how populist politicians use social media platforms.