Critical Theory and Demagogic Populism

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This is the first study to make a detail case for the Frankfurt School's relevance to understanding contemporary populism. It reconstructs their analysis of 'modern demagogy' and demonstrates its advantages over orthodox 'populism studies' and the work of Laclau. The book also extends the Institute's analysis to assess 'counter-demagogic' forces. -- .

Reviews

'Ranging widely across the different intellectual contexts in which questions of populism and demagoguery have been debated since mid-century, Jones puts the critical theorists work into fruitful conversation with fascinating interlocutors from David Riesman to Raymond Williams, from Gramsci to Laclau. He carefully elaborates his concepts and then tracks their nuances across political science, media and cultural studies, into the very fabric of the culture industry. This tour de force reveals untapped riches of critical theory for understanding not just an earlier historical moment but indeed the present resurgence of right-wing populism as well.'
Johannes von Moltke, Professor of German and Film, Media and Television, University of Michigan

'As a piece of intellectual history reconstructing the development of critical theorys engagement with the study of demagogic populism, this is superb. Its deep understanding of the history closely informs and enables its critical work on the varieties of theoretical responses to populism.'
David Owen, Professor of Social and Political Philosophy, University of Southampton

'The electoral success of Giorgia Melonis Brothers of Italy proves that activists with neo-fascist roots can come in from the margins to displace mainstream politicians. The current moment in the (dis) United Kingdoms ongoing great moving right show illustrates that long established parties can be reshaped around ever-more regressive policies. [Jones] direct(s) us to what are therefore urgent problems: what explains the attractions of authoritarian reaction How do we act through our politics, social movements and cultural interventions to effectively counter the right and advance a progressive agenda Jones [and Morelock] provide rich evidence that the concerns and arguments which Horkheimer, Adorno, Lwenthal and their colleagues developed seventy years ago and more can offer starting points to meet key challenges of our time.'
Mike Makin-Waite, Radical Philosophy 213, October 2022

Author Bio

Paul K. Jones is Reader in Sociology in the Research School of Social Sciences at the Australian National University