Europe's Populist Condition

Seminar with Emmy Eklundh by invitation of DESIRE, BrIAS and DFUTURE
Brussels
​10.6.26

In this talk, Dr. Emmy Eklundh presented her book Europe's Populist Condition. Challenging the notion that populism is an anomaly in European politics, this book argues that the main threat to democracy is the exclusionary nature of European democratic traditions. Drawing on decolonial studies, feminist theory, psychoanalysis, and democratic theory, the book reveals how liberal democracy in Europe promotes a fantasy of equality while its politics enacts the exact opposite. By exposing these injustices, the book makes a bold case: populism is not our main problem (or solution), but simply another facet of the ills of liberalism. The book is essential reading for understanding the future of democracy in Europe.  During her time in Brussels, Eklundh also gave a PhD masterclass to students from both the VUB and the ULB.

Emmy Eklundh is Senior Lecturer at Cardiff University. Her research is located in the interface between European Politics and political and social theory. Emmy uses radical democratic frameworks to further our understanding of democracy in Europe, the challenges to our current liberal order, but also the possibilities for democratic reform.