Populism - Distraction of a Problem: Deep Roots of Today’s Political Concerns

This book questions the mainstream interpretation of the current political shifts as a move to ultra-conservative and even fascist politics, changing the polities of the Western democracies that can be overcome by ＂reclaiming democracy＂. Instead of following this path, the present work analyses these developments as extreme consequence that emerged from the individualist and short-sighted understanding of rationality that coined the enlightenment and had been translated into an institutionalist take on democracy. Such view, while accepting the common interpretation of a dramatic and extremely dangerous development, goes further: it emphasises the need to question the pathway of modernisation: Looking at what is hidden by the eclipse of reason encourages also to look for a new societal model, asking for a real public, transcending current strives for publicity. As such, it is an important contribution to debates on precarity and a one-sided understanding of Human Rights. Scholars of political science and political philosophy will be interested in the work as it will be of interest for those who are engaging in oingoi8ng political debates.

Dr. habil; Studies in Sociology (Bielefeld, Germany), Economics (Hamburg), Political Science (Leipzig) and Social Policy and Philosophy (Bremen). He taught and researched at several Third Level Institutions and institutes worldwide. In different contexts and positions he was involved in research projects dealing with areas as for instance occupational health and safety in public services, agriculture and others, development of indicators on social quality, social service provision, social benefit systems etc, pp. He worked as well actively in voluntary organisations nationally and on the supranational level. From here he developed close insights into institutional settings of the EU and Currently he holds the position as research fellow at the Human Rights Centre, Law School, Central South University, Changsha, PRC In later years, after a brief spell in Italy, he accepted a call from Bangor College China, there being appointed as professor for Economics; currently he is research fellow at the Human Rights Center, Law School, Central South University, Changsha, PRC