The People and the Elite

Robert Misik in conversation with Kolja Möller and Carina Altreiter

The People and the Elite
A social theory of populism

The populist appeal to the »people« and mobilisation against the »elites« now dominate politics in many countries around the world. But what are the historical roots of this form of politics? What are the different varieties of populism?

Modern populism thrives on a polemical juxtaposition of the „people“ of the „common people“ against the „elites“ who would deceive them. It is based on democratic instincts, which also form the core of republican constitutional states, namely that the law comes from the people. In extreme cases, an authoritarianism and „Bonapartism“ breaks out, which, however, operates with anti-elitist and democratic energies. It is therefore often even noted that a little populism can do no harm to give a voice to previously unrepresented segments of the population.

Kolja Möller traces the paths of populism from the 11th century to the most recent conflicts in the wake of globalisation and develops a comprehensive social theory of this form of politics. An indispensable book for understanding the current populist wave, the central ideas of which he discusses with sociologist Carina Altreiter under the moderation of Robert Misik.

Kolja Möller works as a research assistant at the Institute of Political Science at the TU Dresden and in the research project »Legal Populism« (funded by the German-Israeli Foundation). He has published Suhrkamp Verlag: Populism. A Reader (stw 2340).

Carina Altreiter is a sociologist, researcher at the Chamber of Labour and previously at the University of Economics. In her research, she has also dealt with class analyses, the working classes and the different cultures of solidarity in various segments of the population. Among other things, she is co-author of the book „Umkämpfte Solidaritäten“ (Contested Solidarities)“

Modertion: Robert Misik, Author and journalist

Kolja Möller:
People and elite
Suhrkamp Verlag, October 2024, 27,50 €