Sociology of Right Wing Populism

How to define and study right wing populism [RWP]? How is contemporary RWP different from the fascist parties of the 1930s and 1940s? What explains the surge of the RWP from political margins to centres of power? Why are RWP supporters overwhelmingly men? What is the role of Islamophobia and anti-immigrant prejudice in the RWP appeal? Did the Great Recession lead to the RWP surge? How and why are some RWP supporters radicalised online into white supremacist terrorism? What is the state of scholarly knowledge on the RWP in Australia? Are the 2016 election of the President Trump and the Brexit referendum signs that the era of neo-liberal hegemony is coming to an end, and the age of RWP "illiberal democracy" is dawning? Is there a "cure" for the RWP? This course will teach you to use scholarly research to answer these and similar questions. You will have the opportunity to practice and develop your public speaking and team presentation skills. You will also have the chance to develop your analytical abilities and writing skills by constructing outline, draft, and a term paper. The success of the course will depend on your preparedness to enter the critical debates and to share your experiences and creative insights with your colleagues and the instructor.