A Political and Human Rights Approach to the Growing Phenomenon of Populism
Populist ideas are currently experiencing a resurgence in our societies, both in Europe and around the world. This poses an unprecedented challenge to our democracies because it is difficult to combat ideas that emanate from the will of the people. Emerging ‘illiberal’ democracies pose a real threat to the survival of the rule of law and human rights. Hate speech particularly targets migrants, minorities, institutions, and politicians who promote progressive values.
What are the causes and effects of these hate strategies? Are there ways of combating this scourge? Are our national, European and international political organisations equipped to combat this phenomenon?
Ioannis K. Panoussis is Vice-Chancellor for International Development at the Catholic University of Lille and a specialist in international human rights law. He was the Dean of the Faculty of Law from 2014 to 2025.
As an academic and lawyer, he focuses on the protection of human rights within international and European law, with a particular focus on humanitarian and refugee law.
His career includes both academic and practice-oriented roles, including a position as a judge at the French national asylum court on behalf of UNHCR. He also carried out missions for the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including in Afghanistan, where he contributed to the promotion of human rights and the training of local actors.
The Role of Populism in Spreading Hate
In his talk, Andrew Glencross will examine the strategy of stoking resentment towards three of the most evident targets of European populism: minorities, institutions, and specific individuals, notably, although not exclusively, politicians, especially those associated with progressive politics.
Each of these targets is related to frustrating in some way the supposed will of the people or else some other form of corruption of citizens’ true interests.
The aim is to understand both the purpose and the effects of populist-driven hate in twenty-first-century Europe, allowing us to reflect on the overarching objective of this strategic mobilization of anger, which is far more precise and goal-oriented than might initially appear.
Andrew Glencross is director of ESPOL (École Européenne de Science Politique et Sociale) of the Université Catholique de Lille and a professor of political science.
Originally from northern England, he studied at Cambridge and obtained his PhD at the European University Institute in Florence.
He taught in the US and the UK, among other places, and is an expert on European integration, EU-UK relations, and the geopolitics of EU foreign policy.
FUCE Summer School 2025
We are organizing this opening lecture in dialogue in the framework of the FUCE Summer School.
Populism Remaking Humanism?
This summer school offers bachelor students the opportunity to engage with leading thinkers, critically analyze the roots and consequences of populism and explore innovative approaches to strengthen democracy in the 21st century.
Public sessions
The full programme is reserved for the selected candidates.
However, you can attend live or online in this opening lecture or the MYEurope panel debate, in which summer school students will share their dreams and concerns about Europe.
