Abstract
This paper undertakes a comparative analysis of religious populism by examining the Greek political party “NIKI” and Turkey’s “Justice and Development Party” (AKP) through the lens of Laclau and Mouffe’s discourse theory. The study explores how both parties construct their political identities and mobilize support by intertwining religious rhetoric with populist narratives. Employing a discourse-theoretical approach, the analysis delves into the articulation of “the people” versus “the elite,” the antagonisms and equivalences formed, and the hegemonic projects pursued by each party. The findings reveal that while NIKI and AKP operate within distinct cultural and political contexts, they both utilize religious symbolism to forge a unified populist front, challenge secularist establishments, and legitimize their political agendas. This comparative examination contributes to a deeper understanding of the dynamics of religious populism in different socio-political landscapes and underscores the versatility of Laclau and Mouffe’s framework in analyzing contemporary populist movements.
Presenters
Stavroula KoskinaStudent, Doctor of Philosophy (Political Sciences), Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Religious Populism, Religion, Populism, Politics of Religion, Laclau and Mouffe
