The Rise of Populism: Geopolitical Consequences

The Rise of Populism: Geopolitical Consequencesednesday 1 April | 18H00
on-line (webinar with Q&A session)

Over the past decade, populism has established itself as a key lens through which contemporary political dynamics are interpreted. Nevertheless, it resists any simple definition. It is alternately understood as a response to socio-economic and territorial inequalities, and as a discursive strategy opposing “the people” to “the elites.” While rooted in diverse national contexts, it also reflects broader structural trends across liberal (and Western) democracies.

Populism does not merely reflect social and political frustrations: it is performative, framing discontent and giving it shape, narrative, and direction. But what exactly do we mean when we speak of populism? Is it simply a cyclical disruption, or does it signal a deeper and more enduring transformation of liberal democratic systems? What are its underlying drivers? And what are the implications for governance, democratic legitimacy, and the international order? How might populist dynamics reshape economic policies—from trade protectionism and tariffs to investment flows and international alliances?

To address these questions, Maxime Lefebvre and Vanessa Strauss-Kahn, Co-Directors of the ESCP Institute of Geopolitics, are pleased to organise a webinar with:

• Florence Ertel, postdoctoral researcher at the Chair of Political Communication at the University of Passau, specialising in geopolitics and the strategic dynamics of the European Union’s relations with Eastern Europe and the post-Soviet region;
• Vivien A. Schmidt, Professor Emerita of International Relations and Political Science at Boston University, Visiting Fellow at the Schuman Center, European University Institute, specialising in the governance, politics, and political economy of the European Union and Western Europe.

Webinar will be held in English. Registration is mandatory.

Register