The Populism Playbook: Analyzing Global Populist Movements

Course Requirements

• A strong interest in crime and how society deals with it.
• An open mind to explore new ideas and challenge your assumptions.

Course Description

Do you feel lost in the world of inflation, rising costs of living and the environment getting worse every single day? Every time that you see powerful people talking about making things better and feel rage toward them, remember that you are not alone!

Populism is that catchy song you can’t get out of your head, it seems to be everywhere, but what, in fact, does it mean? In this course, we’ll cut through the buzzwords and the sound bites to reveal what populism really is all about. We will trace its history from unexpected roots all the way forward to its resurgence in contemporary politics.

It isn’t, however, all theory. We will look at real-life examples from the world’s populist movements, which will go through successes and failures, or what impact they have had on societies in the long run. This course is made for you, the people, to learn about the tricks that politicians use to convince you of their agendas.

What will you learn?

• The Roots of Populism: Uncover the historical origins of populism, tracing its evolution from 19th-century agrarian movements to its modern-day manifestations.
• The Populist Playbook: Discover the common themes, tactics, and language used by populist leaders and movements around the world.
• Populism in Action: Explore real-life case studies of populist movements, analyzing their impact on politics, and society.
• The Populism Debate: Engage in lively discussions about the pros and cons of populism, its relationship to democracy, and its potential consequences.
• Critical Thinking Skills: Develop your ability to analyze political rhetoric, identify populist appeals, and form your own informed opinions.

Course Curriculum

Module 1: Introduction to Populism

• Lecture 1: What is Populism?
• Lecture 2: Why Study Populism?

Module 2: Historical Foundations of Populism

• Lecture 3: The Rise of Populism in the 19th Century: The People’s Party and Agrarian Movements
• Lecture 4: Populism in Latin America: The Peronist Movement and Beyond
• Lecture 5: Populism in Europe: From the 20th Century to the Present

Module 3: Core Characteristics of Populism

• Lecture 6: Anti-Establishment Sentiment: The “People” vs. the “Elite”
• Lecture 7: The Appeal to the “Common People”: Authenticity and Direct Democracy
• Lecture 8: Populist Rhetoric: Emotion, Polarization, and the Politics of Division
• Lecture 9: Populism and Economic Policy: Protectionism, Welfare, and Redistribution

Module 4: Varieties of Populism

• Lecture 10: Left-Wing Populism: Social Justice, Anti-Capitalism, and Worker’s Rights
• Lecture 11: Right-Wing Populism: Nationalism, Nativism, and Cultural Conservatism
• Lecture 12: Agrarian Populism: Rural Discontent and the Critique of Modernity

Module 5: Populism and Contemporary Politics

• Lecture 13: The Global Rise of Populism: Causes and Consequences
• Lecture 14: Populism in the United States: Donald Trump and the Republican Party
• Lecture 15: Populism in Europe: Brexit, the Yellow Vests, and the Rise of the Far-Right

Module 6: Critiques and Challenges of Populism

• Lecture 16: Populism and Democracy: Threat or Renewal?
• Lecture 17: Populism and Authoritarianism: A Slippery Slope?
• Lecture 18: Populism and Social Issues: Inclusion, Exclusion, and Identity Politics

Module 7: The Future of Populism

• Lecture 19: Responding to Populism: Strategies for Mainstream Politics

Who this course is for?

• Students of political science, history, sociology, or media studies
• Anyone interested in understanding populist movements and their impact
• Those seeking to engage in informed discussions about contemporary politics

Sound interesting? Enroll now and let’s get started!

Certificate of Completion

Upon successful completion of the course and final assessment, participants will receive a Certificate of Completion from Eduta.