Crisis of Representation and the Rise of Social Movements: A Comparative Analysis of New Social Movements and Populist Movements
Subject Areas : Research in Theoritical Politics
Salameh Gholipor Khatir
1
(M.A Student, Political Science, Mazandaran University, Iran.)
Mohsen Abbaszadeh Marzbali
2
(Assistant Professor, Political Science Department, Mazandaran University, Iran.)
Mohammad Ghezelsofla
3
(Associate Professor, Political Science Department, Mazandaran University, Iran.)
Keywords: New social movements, Populism, Ideology, Organization and Leadership,
Abstract :
Crisis of Representation and the Rise of Social Movements: A Comparative Analysis of New Social Movements and Populist Movements
Salame Qolipour Khatir *
Mohsen Abbaszadeh Marzbali **
Mohammad Taghi Qezelsofla***
In recent decades, we have witnessed the emergence of various social movements in Western liberal democracies. These movements have their roots in a crisis of representation, which refers to the gap between citizens' aspirations and decision-making institutions in representative democracies. The aim of the present study is to investigate this crisis and conduct a comparative analysis of the characteristics of two dominant types of movements that have emerged in response to this crisis. The main question of the article is to explore the similarities and differences between late social movements in Western liberal democracies. In response, the hypothesis of the article posits that in circumstances where the emergence of new social and populist movements in the West can be viewed in response to the crisis of representation in the institutional structure of Western liberal democracies, these two types of movements differ in terms of ideology, organization, leadership, and perception of an ideal political society. To justify this hypothesis, a combined conceptual framework is employed, consisting of the elements of "politics of identity" and the dualism of pluralism and unity. According to this framework, the common element of late social movements can be identified as an "identity concern" stemming from the elitist structure of liberal democracy. However, due to differences in their interpretation of the "ideal society," these movements differ in their characteristics and implications for the democratic system. The research method of the article is descriptive-analytical, and data is collected based on the study of library resources and online databases.
Keywords: New social movements, Populism, Ideology, Organization and Leadership.
* Corresponding Author: M.A Student, Political Science, Mazandaran University, Iran.
salamegholipor9078@gmail.com
** Assistant Professor, Political Science Department, Mazandaran University, Iran.
Mohsen_Abaszadeh64@yahoo.com
*** Associate Professor, Political Science Department, Mazandaran University, Iran.
m.ghezel@umz.ac.ir
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