Political parties in

the age of populism

26-27 April 2018, University of Birmingham Hosted by REPRESENT – The Research Centre for Parties and Democracy

Overview

The focus of this conference is on populism, political parties, and the use of foreign aid to support democracy overseas (often termed ‘democracy support’). Each session will address one of four key themes:

1. The rise of populism and the (apparent) crisis of representative democracy 2. The impact of populism on political parties 3. The challenge of responding to parties that threaten democracy 4. The potential, and limitations, of alternatives to political parties.

A fifth, cross-cutting theme – the implications of recent trends for the provision of assistance to parties by civil society groups and international donors – will be addressed by all four sessions. A distinctive feature of this conference will be its emphasis on building bridges between academics conducting research on these themes, and policy-makers and practitioners confronting these problems in the field.

Motivation

Populism – and its implications for political parties – is an increasingly global concern. In the last year, populist leaders have won elections in countries ranging from the United States, to the Philippines, to Zambia. This has led to a surge in interest in the impact of populism, both on the part of academics, and the public more broadly. The depth of this interest was demonstrated on 19 January 2017, when the UK House of Lords held a debate about the challenges to the liberal international order posed by the development of populism and nationalism around the world. During that debate, Lord Ashdown observed that it has been populist movements, rather than mainstream political parties, “that have changed the destinies of countries, colonised political parties or invented new ones, and elected presidents.” There is significant tension between populist modes of political mobilization, which tend to focus on the charisma and individual appeal of the leader, and traditional understandings of representative democracy that privilege the role of political parties in representing the will of the public. Given this, the growing influence of populist movements raises serious questions about the continued relevance of political parties. Moreover, it has become clear that populism is not a trend confined to a single region, but rather represents a challenge to traditional modes of doing politics in established democracies, new democracies, and countries on the cusp of democratic transition. It is also a trend that has spread across both the developed and the developing world. All of these factors make a conference focussed on the rise of populism and its impact on political parties particularly appropriate and timely.

Contribution to the debate

The rise of populism represents a distinct challenge to research. Scholars have – to date – tended to operate in ‘silos,’ focussing on particular geographic regions or on countries at a particular level of economic development. This has limited our understanding of the impact of populism on political parties because existing approaches have tended to overlook the fact that the recent surge of populism has cut across both geographic and developmental boundaries. Similarly, the academic debate on possible alternatives to political parties, and what those alternatives might mean for the provision of democracy support by international donors, has been hindered by divides between those who study political parties (political scientists), those who study alternative modes of political mobilization (often, sociologists), and those who study the provision of foreign aid, including aid provided to support democracy (development studies). To fully understand the emergence and significance of populism we need to overcome these divides by studying these topics cross-regionally and in an interdisciplinary way. This conference represents an important first step in this direction. In more concrete terms, the conference will advance scholarship by fostering academic debate on the following questions:

• Has the public become disconnected from traditional parties, or are people are simply connecting to them in different ways?

• Does populism pose an existential threat to political parties? Are they still necessary for the transition to democracy, democratic consolidation, and democratic stability in the long term?

• Are there alternatives to political parties and has the emergence of new technology reshaped the potential, and limitations, of new modes of political participation?

• How can organizations that support democracy by assisting political parties respond to the challenges of populism and new modes of political participation?

Locations All sessions will be held at the Murray Learning Centre in room UG07. This is building R28 on the campus map. The public event will be held in the Aston Webb Main Lecture Theatre. This is in building R7 on the campus map. On both days, lunch will be served in the Michel Tippet Room at Staff House. This is building R24 in the campus map.

Day 1, 26 April 2018

Arrival and registration, 10:30am (Murray Learning Centre, UG07)

Welcome and opening remarks, 11:00am-11:15am

Fernando Casal Bertoa, Assistant Professor, University of Nottingham

Nic Cheeseman, Professor of Democracy, University of Birmingham

11:15am-1:00pm: The rise of populism and the crisis of representative democracy

This panel discusses the implications of the recent electoral success of populist candidates and the crises of representative democracy across the globe. We are interested in, on the one hand, the rise of populist leaders who do not use traditional political organizations to connect to the electorate and, on the other hand, the upsurge of anti-systemic political parties on both the left and right.

Fernando Casal Bértoa Assistant Professor, University of Nottingham

and

José Rama Caamaño Researcher in Political Science, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid

Sickness or symptom? The crisis of representative democracy and the rise of anti-political-establishment parties

Danielle Resnick Development Strategies and Governance Division, IFPRI

Populism and party institutionalization in Africa

Jorge Valladares Senior Programme Manager, International IDEA

What does populism mean for international democracy support?

Chair: Nic Cheeseman, Professor of Democracy, University of Birmingham

Lunch, 1:00pm-2:00pm (Michel Tippet Room at Staff House)

2:00pm-4:00pm: The end of parties, or a rebirth?

This session addresses one of the most hotly debated issues in party politics and the democratization literature: are political parties still necessary for the transition to and functioning of democracy? Are we witnesses the end of political parties, or a potential moment of renewal and rebirth? Speakers will examine how political parties can – or should – change, and what this means for party assistance.

Philippe C. Schmitter Emeritus Professor, European University Institute

Democracy’s dissidents and the future of political parties

Hilary Wainwright Bradford University & Transnational Institute

Populism from another direction: New politics on the left?

Matt Qvortrup Chair of Applied Political Science, Coventry University

Bespoke democracy: How referendums can complement political parties in the populist era

Dina Melhem Regional Director, Westminster Foundation for Democracy

The changing role of parties in the Middle East and North Africa

Chair: Alina Rocha Menocal, Senior Research Fellow, Overseas Development Institute

Public event, 5:30pm-7:00pm: POPULISM – Can we fix it?

Aston Webb Main Lecture Theatre The recent electoral success of populist candidates in both developed and developing countries has triggered concern about the decline of democracy and the future of political parties. At this public event, leading academics, politicians, activists and practitioners will offer up their ‘big idea’ for responding to populism in a series of three-minute pitches. The audience will vote for the winner in a live, online poll.

Opening speaker: Nic Cheeseman, Professor of Democracy, University of Birmingham Why is everyone so worried about populism?

Three Minute Pitches: Tereza Capelos, Senior Lecturer in Political Psychology and Deputy Director

of the Institute for Conflict, Cooperation and Security at the University of Birmingham The Rt Hon Andrew Mitchell, Member of Parliament for the Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield Miriam Lexmann, Director of the EU Office of the International Republican Institute Philippe C. Schmitter, Emeritus Professor, European University Institute

Hilary Wainwright, Sociologist, political activist & co-editor of Red Pepper Dan Lawes, Founder & Editor, YouthPolitics UK

Keboitse Machangana, Director of Global Programmes, International IDEA Anthony Smith, CEO of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy Amy Eaglestone, Knowledge and Innovation Advisor, Netherlands Institute for Multi-party Democracy Matt Qvortrup, Chair of Applied Political Science, Coventry University

Day 2, 27 April 2018

9:00am-11:00am: Defending democracy

Building upon the discussions of day one, the panel on 'defending democracy' analyses the mechanisms traditional democracies have put in place to restrict anti-systemic parties as well as alternatives to these. It also tackles the issue of how to support democracy and political parties in those countries where religious and ethno-regional parties - often assumed to constitute a threat to democracy - form the core of the party system.

Angela Bourne Associate Professor, Roskilde University

Militant democracy and responses to populist parties: Lessons from party ban practices in Europe

Lise Storm Senior Lecturer in Middle East Politics, University of Exeter

Youth politics in the Middle East and North Africa: Democracy support from the ground up

Paul Taggart Professor of Politics, University of Sussex

Defending democracy and responding to populism and unpolitics

Marcin Walecki Head of Democratization Department, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR)

The challenge of responding to parties that threaten democracy

Chair: Kyriaki Nanou, Lecturer in European Politics, University of Nottingham

Coffee break, 11:00am-11:15am

11:15am-1:00pm: If not parties, then what?

This forward-looking session will debate alternatives to political parties and their implications for democracy. Speakers will present papers examining new channels of political participation created by social movements and transnational civil society. They will explore the potential, and limitations, of these alternatives to parties and the challenges that democracy supporters confront in providing assistance to them. Can these actors – who have traditionally worked in a top-down manner – find ways of building democracy from the bottom-up?

Nic Cheeseman Professor of Democracy, University of Birmingham

and

Susan Dodsworth Research Fellow, University of Birmingham

Beyond parties: Populism as challenge and opportunity for democracy support

Beata Martin-Rozumilowicz Regional Director for Europe and Eurasia at the International Foundation for Electoral Systems

Civil society as a proxy for expressing political preferences in Georgia, Kyrgyzstan and Ukraine

Anna Chernova Research Fellow, Foreign Policy Centre

What does populism mean for engagement with civil society?

Chair: Tim Haughton, Reader in European Politics and Head of Department of Political Science and International Studies, University of Birmingham

Lunch, closing remarks and wrap-up, 1:00pm-3:00pm (Michel Tippet Room, Staff House)

Close at 3:00pm

Sport & Fitness

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Edgbaston Campus MapIndex to buildings by zone

Red ZoneR1 Law BuildingR2 Frankland BuildingR3 Hills BuildingR4 Aston Webb – Lapworth MuseumR5 Aston Webb – B BlockR6 Aston Webb – Great HallR7 Aston Webb – Student Hub R8 Physics WestR9 NuffieldR10 Physics EastR11 Medical PhysicsR12 Bramall Music BuildingR13 Poynting BuildingR14 Barber Institute of Fine ArtsR15 Watson BuildingR16 Arts BuildingR17 Ashley BuildingR18 Strathcona BuildingR19 Education BuildingR20 J G Smith BuildingR21 Muirhead TowerR23 University CentreR24 Staff HouseR26 GeographyR27 Biosciences BuildingR28 Murray Learning CentreR29 The Alan Walters Building R30 Main LibraryR31 Collaborative Teaching Laboratory – currently under construction

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Biomolecular NMR SpectroscopyB9 Medical Practice and Dental CentreB10 Advanced Therapies FacilityB11 BioHub BirminghamB12 Health Sciences Research Centre

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Orange ZoneO1 The Guild of StudentsO2 St Francis HallO3 University HouseO4 Ash HouseO5 Beech HouseO6 Cedar HouseO7 Sport & Fitness

Green ZoneG1 32 Pritchatts RoadG2 31 Pritchatts RoadG3 European Research InstituteG4 3 Elms RoadG5 Computer CentreG6 Metallurgy and MaterialsG7 IRC Net Shape LaboratoryG8 Gisbert Kapp BuildingG9 52 Pritchatts RoadG10 54 Pritchatts RoadG11 Nicolson BuildingG12 Winterbourne House and GardenG15 WestmereG18 PriorsfieldG19 Park HouseG20 Elms PlantG22 Elms Day NurseryGreen Zone Conference ParkG13 Hornton GrangeG14 Garth HouseG16 Lucas HouseG17 Peter Scott House

Yellow ZoneY1 Old GymnasiumY2 Haworth BuildingY3 Mechanical and Civil Engineering BuildingY4 Terrace HutsY5 Estates WestY6 Maintenance BuildingY7 Grounds and GardensY8 Chemistry WestY9 Computer ScienceY10 Alta BioscienceY11 Chemical EngineeringY12 Biochemical EngineeringY13 Chemical Engineering WorkshopY14 Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation SciencesY15 Civil Engineering LaboratoriesY16 Occupational HealthY17 Public Health