We would like to revisit an article published in 2014, “The darkside of civil society and its relation with the populist radicalright: a critical discussion” by Federico Quadrelli in The Interdisciplinary Journal of Populism.
“Civil society is seen as the space of social emancipation and is therefore described in purely positiveterms. It is opposed to the state and the market, understood as autonomous and distinct spheres. Thiscontraposition has the effect of creating a binary narrative between what is positive and what is not.Thus, a great misunderstanding is generated: the belief that the answer to the question 'how to defeatthe populist and radical right' is civil society itself, as if it were a homogeneous entity invested withsome messianic function. Is this really the case? In this contribution, I propose a critical reflection ofthe concept of civil society in relation to the phenomenon of the populist radical right in Europe, inorder to illustrate that the role of civil society is ambivalent. The reference cases are Germany andItaly. The reflections that will be presented are based on a part of my research work on the relationshipbetween right-wing populism and civil society organisations.”
Federico Quadrelli
The Interdisciplinary Journal of Populism is an international, peer-reviewed, open-access academic journal published twice a year by the School of Law at the University of Central Lancashire Cyprus. Established within the framework of the Jean Monnet Module "European Union Law and Governance in Populist Times" (2019–2022), the journal provides a platform for interdisciplinary research and scholarly discussion on populism, its various manifestations, and its relationship with contemporary democratic societies.
The journal welcomes contributions from a broad range of disciplines, including sociology, political science, law, media studies, linguistics, gender studies, and education. Its scope encompasses theoretical and empirical perspectives on populism, examining its origins, political and social consequences, relationship with democratic institutions, and expressions in political communication and public discourse. By bringing together diverse academic perspectives, the journal seeks to advance understanding of populism and encourage dialogue among researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and civil society.
Quadrelli, F. (2024). The darkside of civil society and its relation with the populist radical right: A critical discussion. The Interdisciplinary Journal of Populism, (4), 105–128. https://lawpop.eu/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/The-darkside-of-civil-society-and-its-relation-with-the-populist-radical-right.pdf
