Responses to and Implications of Populism and Radicalism

Populism and radicalism have arguably become defining features of the contemporary political landscape in societies across the globe. From the rise of far-right movements and their mainstreaming in political discourse to the contested deployment of the term "populism" across academic and media narratives, the complexities of these phenomena demand critical examination. This section seeks to explore the multifaceted implications of populism and radicalism, their intersections with reactionary politics, and the responses they provoke from scholars, media, and broader society. We invite contributions that address topics including but not limited to: • The Mainstreaming of Far-Right Politics: Examining the mechanisms through which far-right ideologies have entered mainstream discourse, including the role of elites, media narratives, and political strategies. • Populism as Hype: Critical analyses of the conceptual conflation of populism with far-right politics and its implications for public discourse, policymaking, and academic research. • Reactionary Democracy: Investigations into how democratic rhetoric and structures are co-opted to serve reactionary ends, perpetuate systemic inequalities, and legitimate far-right ideologies. • Elite Influence and Responsibility: Studies on how elite actors, including media organisations, politicians, and academics, shape, reinforce, or resist reactionary and far-right narratives. • Hegemonic Discourse and Radical Alternatives: Deconstructing dominant liberal vs. populist dichotomies to explore radical and progressive alternatives to current political systems. • Intersectionality in the Analysis of Radicalism: The roles of race, class, gender, and other axes of identity in the construction and perpetuation of populist and reactionary politics. We welcome interdisciplinary perspectives, including but not limited to political science, sociology, media studies, critical race studies, and cultural studies. Submissions may include theoretical contributions, empirical research, case studies, or methodological innovations.