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Populism in the United States
DozentIn: Jatin Wagle
Veranstaltungstyp: Seminar
Ort: 41/218
Zeiten: Di. 12:00 - 14:00 (wöchentlich)
Beschreibung: "The scum of creation has been dumped on us. Some of our principal cities are more foreign than American. …The vice and crime which they have planted in our midst are sickening and terrifying," proclaimed one of the leaders of the so-called People's Party, Thomas E. Watson, while describing the state of immigration in the United States in the first decade of the last century. Strikingly similar rhetoric and sentiment have become the mainstay of the American public discourse in more recent times, ever since Donald Trump began his successful campaign for presidency. Trump's political affinities in general and his anti-immigrant, xenophobic rhetoric in particular have often been described as populist by his critics and opponents, but also by a few of his supporters. But, populism is not as self-evident a term as it is sometimes made out to be, since there appears to be no clear agreement regarding its character: Is it primarily a form or discourse of political mobilization? Is it necessarily linked to authoritarian tendencies? What are the breeding grounds of populist politics?
In this course in American Studies, we will explore multiple definitions of populism, but also attempt to contextualize populist discourses by tracing their historical antecedents within modern American history. Furthermore, we will take up modern American literary texts, especially those of narrative fiction, that address the politics of populism.
In order to take and enjoy this class, you should be willing to read, analyze, and discuss narrative fiction, as well as historical and critical texts. A list of literary texts to be read and discussed during the course will be appended soon.
