Abstract:
Despite the provocative statement made in the title, the aim of this
article is not to argue that populism (studies) does not exist or that
it cannot be a useful concept, or that there may not be space for a
lively field of populism studies to develop. Yet the argument developed
here is that it is only possible if our understanding of populism serves
a purpose such as helping us make better sense of the world around us.
If, on the contrary, the term is used to obscure, deflect and divert
attention away from processes of power formation and consolidation, then
populism and populism studies do not exist: they are a simulacrum, a
con. To explore these issues, I first (re)engage with the concept of
‘populist hype’ originally developed with Jason Glynos (2016) and apply
it more precisely to academia. I then turn to one key contradiction in
populism studies whereby definitional debates are both incredibly lively
and yet often used to conceal power. In both sections, I explore the
way in which populism has often been conflated with the far right,
losing its explanatory power and legitimising such politics. Finally, I
conclude with some reflections on the future of populism studies.
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