Looking back: Historicizing populism

As we prepare for the Sixth Helsinki Conference on Emotions, Populism, and Polarisation (HEPP6) coming up in May, let’s take a moment to look back to a much smaller event that we hosted back in the November grey. Once again, we thank the keynote speakers and participants from this symposium!

On 3-4 November 2025, the Helsinki Hub on Emotions, Populism and Polarisation (HEPP) hosted an International Symposium on Historicizing Populism: From the Classics to the Contemporary. The symposium was supported by three ongoing projects: the Horizon Europe funded and , and HEPPster Olena Siden's MSCA4Ukraine-funded doctoral project, "Discursive construction of war in French political discourse: case of the Russo-Ukrainian war" (D-COW FPD). Any opinions expressed here or at the event reflect the opinions of the speakers and not the position of the European Commission.

It began with a keynote speech from Sabrina Morán on the development of populism in Argentina, which set the stage for two days of discussion on populist histories and the populist present. Following the public keynote, the symposium participants left for Hotel Rantapuisto, where the inspiring premises contributed to the lively intellectual atmosphere. The symposium included contributions on a wide range of topics, from ‘protopopulism’ in medieval England and early modern France to the developments in populist rhetoric across the 20^th century in numerous country cases. The speakers used historical cases to open fresh and exciting theoretical discussions, leaving all participants feeling refreshed and eager to continue the conversations afterwards. Finally, Charles Postel closed the symposium with a fascinating keynote on the symbols most prominent in Donald Trump’s second presidency, and the histories behind them.

The symposium addressed CO3’s theme of the social contract through its explorations of how populism has contested, remade, and otherwise interacted with the hegemonic structures through which citizens relate to their governments over the past century (and more!). PLEDGE’s main theme of grievance politics was an underlying topic throughout the symposium, given the centrality of historical circumstances to grievance politics in the present. Finally, Olena Siden both presented on the historical context of her doctoral research and brought the theme of populism and crisis into discussions throughout the symposium.

The symposium was a marked success, bringing in speakers from across Europe and as far away as Argentina. It gave early career scholars the opportunity to develop relationships with prominent senior scholars in the field, such as HEPP visiting researcher Charles Postel (who will be joining us again this spring!)and Associate Professor Allan Dreyer Hansen of Roskilde University. We thank all who contributed to such an enjoyable and productive event: the organizing team, the supporting projects, and most of all, our wonderful participants.