Date: 23 October 2024
Time: 10:00-11:45
Venue: Institute for Futures Studies, Holländargatan 13 in Stockholm
Research seminar with Christian Rostbøll, professor of political theory at the University of Copenhagen.
Abstract
It is commonly noted that supporters of populism seek recognition. It is less clear what exactly is meant by “recognition,” and why populist struggles for recognition often come into conflict with fundamental democratic principles. In this seminar, I will use insights from sociology, political science, and philosophy to analyze the connection between recognition and populism. There are different kinds of recognition, and while struggles for recognition have been essential to the progress of democracy, the rise of populism shows that not all struggles for recognition promote equality and inclusion. It is crucial to distinguish between recognition as esteem and recognition as respect, as well as egalitarian and hierarchical forms of respect. The way in which populism understands “recognition of the people” can, in addition, help explain its interpretation of democracy, its anti-pluralism, and its hostility to public deliberation. The seminar is based on my recent book, Democratic Respect: Populism, Resentment, and the Struggle for Recognition (Cambridge University Press, 2023).
If you wish to receive our newsletters, and invitations to our seminars, subscribe here.
