Across the Western world, populism has been on the rise and is transforming politics. In this two-part course, Frank Furedi, Emeritus Professor of Sociology and one of the most widely cited social commentators in the UK press, explores what populism really consists of, why it is so frequently dismissed, and what its future is likely going to be. Furedi reframes populism as a democratic disposition: a genuine demand for solidarity, cultural security, and the right to be heard. Now director of the Hungarian think tank MCC Brussels, Furedi argues that the world must take populism seriously and engage with its underlying philosophy on its own terms.

Part 1: The anti-populist narrative: A brief history of populism - from its roots in Ancient Greece to the modern anti-populist narrative.

Part 2: Populism as a democratic disposition: Far from being a threat to democracy, Furedi makes the case that populism may be one of its most authentic expressions.

"Furedi's analysis is brilliant." – Jonathan Haidt