Critical theory and populism

Critical Theory and Populism

From its very outset, Critical Theory has immensely contributed to thinking and understanding democratic crises. First, Horkheimer and Adorno’s dialectic of enlightenment and, later, empirical studies on the authoritarian personality constitute fundamental references about fascism. Second, the notion of crisis itself was explored by authors such as Habermas in Legitimation Crisis, for example. Thus, exploring the meanings of a new crisis of democracy based on these theoretical frameworks seems quite promising.

The concept of populism, in turn, is not entirely new and has already produced a vast literature in Brazil. In addition, after Ernesto Laclau's work, populism gained strength and originality. By privileging the people as a political unit, Laclau opens a discussion with authors ranging from political theory, such as Carl Schmitt, to the post-structuralist debate and psychoanalysis. On the one hand, populism confronts the concept of democracy and pluralism of civil society defended by Habermas; on the other, it brings some insights from Freud's mass psychology, which is also crucial for the first generation of Critical Theory.

The aim of this dossier is to present works that insert Critical Theory in the debate about populism both in Brazil and worldwide. In this sense, contributions that articulate points of convergence or impossibilities of conciliation between populism and Critical Theory are welcome.

Editors: Raphael Neves (Unifesp/Cebrap) and Paulo Yamawake (Cebrap)

New deadline: June 30, 2021

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