The global spread of populism and growing challenges to the rule of law, even in established democracies, are increasingly blurring the analytical boundaries between democracy and autocracy in comparative politics. We need a new approach to the study of political institutions and behaviours that recognises the convergent trends of illiberalism, diminished trust in political institutions, and personalistic and identity-based contestation that are reshaping politics in democratic and authoritarian regimes alike.
Our research group is dedicated to increasing our understanding of the rise of populism and the deepening of authoritarianism around the world. It will create synergies across departments and institutes at King’s as well as partner with other academic centres working on these issues around the world.
The central task of this research group is to focus on the combinations of social, economic and institutional factors that give rise to authoritarian and populist trends and to do so using a variety of methods and concepts as well as a comparative perspective.
Activities
Populism in Latin America and Beyond
Recent political events in the US and Europe have focused scholarly debate on the nature of populism and its relationship to democracy. In the context of Latin America the concept has a long history. Associated with economic nationalism and the co-optation of particular classes from the early twentieth century, from the 1990s a neo-liberal form of populism emerged in Latin America. With the diversity of ‘populisms’ identified, the conference seeks to examine whether the term continues to have any validity and what relationship(s) it has to democracy. Speakers include contributions from Steve Levitsky, Professor of Government, Harvard; and Francisco Panizza, Professor of Latin American Comparative Politics, LSE. The King's Brazil Institute at King's College London has partnered with the Institute of Latin American Studies at the University of London to bring you this two day international conference.
Activities
Populism in Latin America and Beyond
Recent political events in the US and Europe have focused scholarly debate on the nature of populism and its relationship to democracy. In the context of Latin America the concept has a long history. Associated with economic nationalism and the co-optation of particular classes from the early twentieth century, from the 1990s a neo-liberal form of populism emerged in Latin America. With the diversity of ‘populisms’ identified, the conference seeks to examine whether the term continues to have any validity and what relationship(s) it has to democracy. Speakers include contributions from Steve Levitsky, Professor of Government, Harvard; and Francisco Panizza, Professor of Latin American Comparative Politics, LSE. The King's Brazil Institute at King's College London has partnered with the Institute of Latin American Studies at the University of London to bring you this two day international conference.
Our Partners
This research is undertaken in partnership with Oswaldo Amaral from Unicamp.