IR108: Populist and Alt-Right Politics

Once regarded as a symptom of political underdevelopment, populist politics are challenging the political establishment in virtually all regions of the world.

In parallel and closely associated with the expansion of populist politics there has been a surge in alt-right politics that usually articulate populism’s anti-establishment appeals to far-right ideologies based on race, ethnic and nationalist forms of identification. The two, however, should be distinguished, as there are many varieties of populism, ranging from the radical left to the extreme right.

The course will characterise populism and alt-right politics, explore the causes of their rise throughout the world, discuss their relations with liberal democracy and authoritarian politics and study varieties of populism and alt-right politics in different regions of the world.

A number of important questions will be examined and addressed, including:

• What is populism?
• What are the causes of the rise of populism and the alt-right?
• Is populism a threat or a corrective to democracy?
• What are the relations between populism and alt-right politics?
• What are the key components of alt-right ideology and identity?
• How does the alt-right use social media and virtual communities to expand its appeal?

Prerequisites: There are no prerequisites for this course. 

Level: 100 level. Read more information on levels in our FAQs

Fees: Please see Fees and payments

Lectures: 36 hours

Classes: 18 hours

Assessment: One 1,500-word essay (50%), and one final exam (50%).

Typical credit: 3-4 credits (US) 7.5 ECTS points (EU)

Please note: Assessment is optional but may be required for credit by your home institution. Your home institution will be able to advise how you can meet their credit requirements. For more information on exams and credit, read Teaching and assessment

This course is suited to students who wish to better understand populism, it’s causes and its effects on political systems around the world. It is a beneficial course for anyone hoping to pursue a career in politics or political research.

By taking this course students are expected to:

• Critically engage contending theories of populism and alt-right politics
• Understand its causes and varieties
• Combine theory and evidence to examine the relations between populism, the alt-right, liberalism and democracy
• Compare, contrast and draw connections for the comparative analysis of populism and the alt-right in different regions of the world
• Prepare and present high quality oral presentations that critically master the arguments and present them in a clear and balanced way
• Work independently to plan and produce original work that draws on multiple sources

The design of this course is guided by LSE faculty, as well as industry experts, who will share their experience and in-depth knowledge with you throughout the course.