Source: Confronting authoritarian populism: a new initiative | zimbabweland June 26, 2017
A few weeks back, I highlighted the launch of the Emancipatory Rural Politics Initiative (ERPI), and the availability of small grants for doing research on both the contours of the current conjuncture, and how authoritarian populism emerges and is sustained in rural areas, as well as the forms of resistance and diversity of alternatives being generated for more emancipatory futures.
Now the team initially behind the ERPI have produced an open access ‘think-piece’ background paper, the first in a Journal of Peasant Studies Forum series on Authoritarian Populism in the Rural World.
The paper is open access, so please do share widely. The small grants window closes at the end of this week, so if you are thinking of applying do so now. And tell others across the world!
Since our initial launch, there has been massive interest, so do sign up for more info via the ERPI website (www.iss.nl/erpi). This paper will hopefully inspire further questions, suggest challenges and further provoke the debate. With political developments in all parts of the world, this is a vital theme for engaged researchers and activists concerned about the future of the rural world – and more broadly too.
Here is the paper’s abstract:
Emancipatory rural politics: confronting authoritarian populism
A new political moment is underway. Although there are significant differences in how this is constituted in different places, one manifestation of the new moment is the rise of distinct forms of authoritarian populism. In this opening paper of the JPS Forum series on ‘Authoritarian Populism and the Rural World,’ we explore the relationship between these new forms of politics and rural areas around the world. We ask how rural transformations have contributed to deepening regressive national politics, and how rural areas shape and are shaped by these politics. We propose a global agenda for research, debate and action, which we call the Emancipatory Rural Politics Initiative (ERPI. This centres on understanding the contemporary conjuncture, working to confront authoritarian populism through the analysis of and support for alternatives.
Download the paper here. We’d love to hear what you think of it. And please do get involved in the Initiative!
COMMENTS
i need to get involved .this is really panaecia to the development of rhird world countries. i am teacher by proffession . am really hurt by politicians who thrive oj rural ignorance. .in my coyntry zmbabwe .the rural folk are manipulated to suit every vote dilemma by dictators . delimitatiojs of voting constituencies are done according to rural ignorance. .candadates are imposed and the rural folk gullibly vote for the dictated choice. .i would luke to take part in this mission..