On 19 February, Chantal Mouffe, Professor of Political Theory at the University of Westminster in London, discussed Europe’s current 'post-democratic' condition in a lecture organised by the Graduate Institute’s Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy.

Focusing on the role played by the ‘affects’ that are at stake in the construction of collective identities, she said “right-wing populist movements understand that politics is always partisan, requiring the creation of a frontier between ‘us’ and ‘them’. Populist leaders are also well aware of the need to mobilise ‘affect’ to construct political identities.”

“The populist movement that we are witnessing in Europe may open the way to authoritarian regimes that weaken liberal democratic institutions, but it could also lead to the reaffirmation and deepening of democratic values. Everything will depend on the kind of populism that emerges victorious from the struggle against post-politics and post-democracy.”

The Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy will organise further lectures throughout the semester, with details available on their website. You can watch Chantal Mouffe’s lecture below.