Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Thomás Zicman de Barros @bolandeira.bsky.social · Aug 17

Levitsky acerta ao notar que autoritários vencem porque elites lhes dão salvo-conduto. Mas sua saída é confiar em “elites responsáveis” que mantenham a democracia com participação limitada. Uma crítica ao autoritarismo que acaba presa numa visão elitista da própria democracia.

Lula @lulaoficialbluesky.bsky.social · Aug 13

Hoje recebi no Palácio do Planalto o Professor Steven Levitsky, cientista político e autor do best-seller “Como as Democracias Morrem”.

📸 Ricardo Stuckert

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Reposted by Thomás Zicman de Barros

Populism Specialist Group @populismpsa.bsky.social · Jun 18

Patriotism or ‘identity’ politics?

In JCES, @bolandeira.bsky.social & @theoaiolfi.bsky.social show how Mélenchon’s vision of 'créolisation' shakes up the populist playbook - offering a path beyond nationalist appeals & the worn-out binary of universalism vs. particularism.

doi.org/10.1080/1478...

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Thomás Zicman de Barros @bolandeira.bsky.social · Jun 18

Thrilled to share this (apparently controversial) piece with @theoaiolfi.bsky.social digging into how the French left imagines “the people.”

From LFI’s shifting tactics to Ruffin–Mélenchon frictions, creolisation, and the stakes of radical democracy — we go there!

Théo Aiolfi @theoaiolfi.bsky.social · Jun 18

📢 New article with @bolandeira.bsky.social in JCES!

Can left populism embrace anti-racism & queer politics - or must it stick to patriotism to reach “the people”?

We reply to Rojas-Andrés, Mazzolini & Custodi with a French case: the Mélenchon–Ruffin split.👇

www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

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Reposted by Thomás Zicman de Barros

Théo Aiolfi @theoaiolfi.bsky.social · Jun 18

📢 New article with @bolandeira.bsky.social in JCES!

Can left populism embrace anti-racism & queer politics - or must it stick to patriotism to reach “the people”?

We reply to Rojas-Andrés, Mazzolini & Custodi with a French case: the Mélenchon–Ruffin split.👇

www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

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Thomás Zicman de Barros @bolandeira.bsky.social · Jun 9

Nothing better than wrapping up the day with good news: another article co-authored with the brilliant @theoaiolfi.bsky.social has just been accepted for publication! That’s our second in 2025 — and this one is bound to stir some debate. More soon!

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Thomás Zicman de Barros @bolandeira.bsky.social · May 27

Acabou de sair minha segunda crônica pra @br.rfi.fr!

Religião e racismo: no Brasil, temas separados. Na França, se misturam num discurso “laico” que exclui muçulmanos—e revive a gramática do antissemitismo.

Tema delicado. O que acharam?
www.rfi.fr/br/podcasts/...

O Mundo Agora - Islamofobia à francesa: racismo sistêmico se traveste de 'neutralidade' para excluir muçulmanos

Um relatório oficial sem provas reativou, na França, a figura do muçulmano como "inimigo interno". A islamofobia, longe de ser um desvio, tornou-se linguagem institucional — e disfarça, sob a ideia de...

www.rfi.fr

Thomás Zicman de Barros @bolandeira.bsky.social · May 5

Maio começa com novidade: no dia 12, estreio como cronista na @br.rfi.fr!
Direto de Paris, duas vezes por mês, comentarei sobre política internacional em texto, áudio e vídeo—num continente onde fantasmas antigos começam a rondar novamente.
Estou animado. É hora de prestar atenção.

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Thomás Zicman de Barros @bolandeira.bsky.social · Apr 17

We’ve won a prize! So happy to see years of hard work and dedication recognised. Huge congratulations to all past and present convenors—this one’s for all of us!

Populism Specialist Group @populismpsa.bsky.social · Apr 17

What a way to end #PSA25: Populism SG won Specialist Group of the Year! Huge shoutout to all our amazing convenors, past & present. @bolandeira.bsky.social & @theoaiolfi.bsky.social accepted the award—cheers to @giorgosvenizelos.bsky.social, Juan Roch, Laura Chazel & @janagoyvaerts.bsky.social!

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Reposted by Thomás Zicman de Barros

CEVIPOF - Sciences Po @cevipof.bsky.social · Mar 21

#Vendredilecture
New article @bolandeira.bsky.social @cevipof.bsky.social "Transgressive Aesthetics of Populism" (w/Theo Aiolfi) in @journalpolitics.bsky.social.
👉How #populism disrupts the rules of visibility in politics #aesthetics #queertheory #democracy.
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...

The transgressive aesthetics of populism - Thomás Zicman de Barros, Théo Aiolfi, 2025

This article consolidates the emerging discursive-performative paradigm in populist studies by presenting the idea of populism as an aesthetic transgression, br...

journals.sagepub.com

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Reposted by Thomás Zicman de Barros

Populism Specialist Group @populismpsa.bsky.social · Mar 13

⏰️ TIC-TOC, TIC-TOC!

The deadline is tomorrow! Ready to dive into the future of emancipatory politics in Thessaloniki? Submit your abstract and be part of the conversation at our annual workshop!

Populism Specialist Group @populismpsa.bsky.social · Feb 3

1/ 📢 CALL FOR PAPERS

Join us in Thessaloniki 🇬🇷 for our 9th Annual Workshop to rethink hegemony, populism & political strategy in today’s turbulent world.

Keynotes:
Judith Butler & Yannis Stavrakakis

🗓 2–3 Oct 2025
📝 Submit by 14 Mar 2025

More info: www.psapopulism.org/events/2025-...

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Reposted by Thomás Zicman de Barros

Giorgos Venizelos @giorgosvenizelos.bsky.social · Mar 10

How does emancpatory politics and strategy look today?

Send us your abstract by Friday.

Judith Butler and Yannis Stavrakakis will be keynotes (in person).

Populism Specialist Group @populismpsa.bsky.social · Mar 10

⏳ DEADLINE REMINDER! ⏳

Don't forget to submit your abstract for our annual workshop featuring Judith Butler and Yannis Stavrakakis! The deadline is this Friday—don’t miss out.

More details below! ⬇️

Populism Specialist Group @populismpsa.bsky.social · Feb 3

1/ 📢 CALL FOR PAPERS

Join us in Thessaloniki 🇬🇷 for our 9th Annual Workshop to rethink hegemony, populism & political strategy in today’s turbulent world.

Keynotes:
Judith Butler & Yannis Stavrakakis

🗓 2–3 Oct 2025
📝 Submit by 14 Mar 2025

More info: www.psapopulism.org/events/2025-...

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Reposted by Thomás Zicman de Barros

Populism Specialist Group @populismpsa.bsky.social · Mar 10

⏳ DEADLINE REMINDER! ⏳

Don't forget to submit your abstract for our annual workshop featuring Judith Butler and Yannis Stavrakakis! The deadline is this Friday—don’t miss out.

More details below! ⬇️

Populism Specialist Group @populismpsa.bsky.social · Feb 3

1/ 📢 CALL FOR PAPERS

Join us in Thessaloniki 🇬🇷 for our 9th Annual Workshop to rethink hegemony, populism & political strategy in today’s turbulent world.

Keynotes:
Judith Butler & Yannis Stavrakakis

🗓 2–3 Oct 2025
📝 Submit by 14 Mar 2025

More info: www.psapopulism.org/events/2025-...

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Reposted by Thomás Zicman de Barros

Populism Specialist Group @populismpsa.bsky.social · Feb 27

⏳️ DEADLINE REMINDER! ⌛️

Only two weeks left to submit your abstracts for our workshop on populism, hegemony, and the future of emancipatory politics, featuring Judith Butler and Yannis Stavrakakis in Thessaloniki!

Don’t miss out—details below! ⬇️

Populism Specialist Group @populismpsa.bsky.social · Feb 3

1/ 📢 CALL FOR PAPERS

Join us in Thessaloniki 🇬🇷 for our 9th Annual Workshop to rethink hegemony, populism & political strategy in today’s turbulent world.

Keynotes:
Judith Butler & Yannis Stavrakakis

🗓 2–3 Oct 2025
📝 Submit by 14 Mar 2025

More info: www.psapopulism.org/events/2025-...

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Reposted by Thomás Zicman de Barros

Benjamin De Cleen @benjamindecleen.bsky.social · Feb 25

Really happy www.researchcenterdesire.eu could team up with the Populism Specialist Group to co-host this workshop to rethink hegemony, populism & political strategy for the current moment.

Populism Specialist Group @populismpsa.bsky.social · Feb 3

1/ 📢 CALL FOR PAPERS

Join us in Thessaloniki 🇬🇷 for our 9th Annual Workshop to rethink hegemony, populism & political strategy in today’s turbulent world.

Keynotes:
Judith Butler & Yannis Stavrakakis

🗓 2–3 Oct 2025
📝 Submit by 14 Mar 2025

More info: www.psapopulism.org/events/2025-...

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Thomás Zicman de Barros @bolandeira.bsky.social · Feb 17

Amigos de São Paulo, aproveitando uma passagem relampago por essas bandas, nos vemos nesta 5ª na Tapera Taperá! Vou conversar com a Maria Raphaela Campello sobre populismo.

Com transmissão online 😉

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Thomás Zicman de Barros @bolandeira.bsky.social · Feb 8

Thank you for your kind words, @benmoffitt.bsky.social! It's an honour to be able to contribute to a field for which you laid the foundations!

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Reposted by Thomás Zicman de Barros

Benjamin Moffitt @benmoffitt.bsky.social · Feb 8

Two of the most creative & forward-thinking young scholars of populism with a fascinating new article on the transgressive aesthetic dimensions of populism. Great stuff!

Théo Aiolfi @theoaiolfi.bsky.social · Feb 7

📝 NEW WORK OUT

1/ Excited to share our article "The Transgressive Aesthetics of Populism" (w/ @bolandeira.bsky.social) in @journalpolitics.bsky.social. We explore how populism disrupts the rules of visibility in politics, connecting aesthetics, queer theory & democracy 🧵

doi.org/10.1177/0263...

The transgressive aesthetics of populism - Thomás Zicman de Barros, Théo Aiolfi, 2025

This article consolidates the emerging discursive-performative paradigm in populist studies by presenting the idea of populism as an aesthetic transgression, br...

doi.org

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Thomás Zicman de Barros @bolandeira.bsky.social · Feb 8

It's an honour to read a comment like that, @emmyeklundh.bsky.social! Muito obrigado! 😊

Thomás Zicman de Barros @bolandeira.bsky.social · Feb 7

Thank you very much, querida @pinheiromachado.bsky.social! 😊

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Reposted by Thomás Zicman de Barros

Giorgos Venizelos @giorgosvenizelos.bsky.social · Feb 7

Critical populism studies (as we call it these days) increasingly highlight the transgressive-performative function of populism.

@bolandeira.bsky.social and @theoaiolfi.bsky.social not only capture this but also help consolidate the argument theoretically.

Read their new article below!

Théo Aiolfi @theoaiolfi.bsky.social · Feb 7

📝 NEW WORK OUT

1/ Excited to share our article "The Transgressive Aesthetics of Populism" (w/ @bolandeira.bsky.social) in @journalpolitics.bsky.social. We explore how populism disrupts the rules of visibility in politics, connecting aesthetics, queer theory & democracy 🧵

doi.org/10.1177/0263...

The transgressive aesthetics of populism - Thomás Zicman de Barros, Théo Aiolfi, 2025

This article consolidates the emerging discursive-performative paradigm in populist studies by presenting the idea of populism as an aesthetic transgression, br...

doi.org

1 3

Reposted by Thomás Zicman de Barros

Rosana Pinheiro-Machado @pinheiromachado.bsky.social · Feb 7

New paper by the brilliant @bolandeira.bsky.social

Thomás Zicman de Barros @bolandeira.bsky.social · Feb 7

🥳 NEW ARTICLE!
I'm very happy to share this article I co-authored with my friend @theoaiolfi.bsky.social! It’s one of the most significant contributions of my career, developed over 2 years of deep reflection and collaboration. If you have trouble accessing it, reach out—I’ll gladly send you a copy!

Théo Aiolfi @theoaiolfi.bsky.social · Feb 7

📝 NEW WORK OUT

1/ Excited to share our article "The Transgressive Aesthetics of Populism" (w/ @bolandeira.bsky.social) in @journalpolitics.bsky.social. We explore how populism disrupts the rules of visibility in politics, connecting aesthetics, queer theory & democracy 🧵

doi.org/10.1177/0263...

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Reposted by Thomás Zicman de Barros

Populism Specialist Group @populismpsa.bsky.social · Feb 7

📢 PUBLICATION ALERT!

In this article, @bolandeira.bsky.social & @theoaiolfi.bsky.social bridge discursive & performative approaches to populism through aesthetic transgression—engaging queer theory along the way! A must-read for those interested in populism, aesthetics & radical politics!

Théo Aiolfi @theoaiolfi.bsky.social · Feb 7

📝 NEW WORK OUT

1/ Excited to share our article "The Transgressive Aesthetics of Populism" (w/ @bolandeira.bsky.social) in @journalpolitics.bsky.social. We explore how populism disrupts the rules of visibility in politics, connecting aesthetics, queer theory & democracy 🧵

doi.org/10.1177/0263...

The transgressive aesthetics of populism - Thomás Zicman de Barros, Théo Aiolfi, 2025

This article consolidates the emerging discursive-performative paradigm in populist studies by presenting the idea of populism as an aesthetic transgression, br...

doi.org

1 3

Thomás Zicman de Barros @bolandeira.bsky.social · Feb 7

🥳 NEW ARTICLE!
I'm very happy to share this article I co-authored with my friend @theoaiolfi.bsky.social! It’s one of the most significant contributions of my career, developed over 2 years of deep reflection and collaboration. If you have trouble accessing it, reach out—I’ll gladly send you a copy!

Théo Aiolfi @theoaiolfi.bsky.social · Feb 7

📝 NEW WORK OUT

1/ Excited to share our article "The Transgressive Aesthetics of Populism" (w/ @bolandeira.bsky.social) in @journalpolitics.bsky.social. We explore how populism disrupts the rules of visibility in politics, connecting aesthetics, queer theory & democracy 🧵

doi.org/10.1177/0263...

The transgressive aesthetics of populism - Thomás Zicman de Barros, Théo Aiolfi, 2025

This article consolidates the emerging discursive-performative paradigm in populist studies by presenting the idea of populism as an aesthetic transgression, br...

doi.org

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Thomás Zicman de Barros @bolandeira.bsky.social · Feb 3

Thrilled to announce this: to mark the anniversaries of Hegemony and Socialist Strategy (1985) & On Populist Reason (2005), @populismpsa.bsky.social is hosting a workshop in Thessaloniki with no less than Judith Butler & Yannis Stavrakakis! You don't want to miss this!

Populism Specialist Group @populismpsa.bsky.social · Feb 3

1/ 📢 CALL FOR PAPERS

Join us in Thessaloniki 🇬🇷 for our 9th Annual Workshop to rethink hegemony, populism & political strategy in today’s turbulent world.

Keynotes:
Judith Butler & Yannis Stavrakakis

🗓 2–3 Oct 2025
📝 Submit by 14 Mar 2025

More info: www.psapopulism.org/events/2025-...

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Reposted by Thomás Zicman de Barros

Journal of Political Ideologies @jpolideologies.bsky.social · Jan 24

Next we have "The polysemy of an empty signifier: the various uses of Ernesto Laclau’s puzzling concept" by Thomás Zicman de Barros @cevipof.bsky.social @sciencespo.bsky.social

www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

The polysemy of an empty signifier: the various uses of Ernesto Laclau’s puzzling concept

The concept of empty signifier is possibly the most prominent among those developed by Ernesto Laclau. However, despite its success among discourse theorists, this notion remains puzzling. It has b...

www.tandfonline.com

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