Introduction: New Reflections on Ernesto Laclau's Theory of Populism

Ernesto Laclau's theory of populism has become hugely influential in the study of populism and is now considered one of the key references in the academic literature. Beyond academia, his work has been taking up by political activists in Latin America and Southern Europe in particular. The four articles collected in this symposium critically examine Laclau's theory. Among other things, the articles analyze the formalism in his work, the relationship between populism and hegemony, the distinction between left and right wing populism, the relationship between populism and nationalism, and the role of affect and the body.