ATS2258 The global rise of populism

Across the democratic world, populism has emerged as a powerful and destabilising force. This unit explores the origins, meaning and impact of populism in a range of national contexts. We will investigate the various forces driving the populist backlash, from anxieties about mass immigration to economic inequality and the urban/rural divide. Given the highly contested nature of populism, we will look in depth to different theories of populism, including institutional, ideological, discursive and socio-cultural understandings. Then we will apply these historical and theoretical understandings to regional case-studies, comparing and contrasting forms of populism in Australia, the United States and Europe.