Papers by Théo Aiolfi
Theatre, Dance and Performance Training, 2022
Global Studies Quarterly, 2022
As a consequence of its performative turn, the critical literature on populism has dedicated incr... more As a consequence of its performative turn, the critical literature on populism has dedicated increasing attention to its sociocultural and stylistic features. Among the most prominent concepts underpinning this approach is the notion that populism relies on the "flaunting of the low" or the use of "bad manners." This article engages in an extensive discussion of the way this concept is used in the literature and showcases its main limitations. In replacement, I then suggest the alternative concept of transgression, understood as the violation of a norm, which has the substantial advantages of being more flexible and versatile as well as less reliant on a normative binary. I then develop an associated typology of transgressive performances depending on which type of norms is being disrupted: transgressions of interactional norms, transgressions of rhetoric norms, and transgressions of theatrical norms. Following this, I showcase how this typology contributes to the IR literature by emphasizing the importance of agency and embodied performances in global politics. This article concludes on the potential of considering transgression beyond populism.
International Public Policy Review (IPPR) - Volume 9, Number 2, Jun 23, 2015
"The scholarly discipline of International Relations (IR) was deeply shaped by the ‘Fourth Great ... more "The scholarly discipline of International Relations (IR) was deeply shaped by the ‘Fourth Great Debate’ which opposed neo-positivist approaches, firmly rooted within a ‘scientific’ conception of analyzing global politics, and post-positivist approaches, that challenged the very notion of science and the possibility to reach objectivity in international studies. At the conclusion of this debate, social constructivism emerged as a powerful tradition of thought, now occupying a significant place in the syllabus of every IR theory class. Poststructuralism, typically taught after constructivism, did not receive the same level of attention and its radical premises may make it seem like nothing more than an ‘extremist’ take on constructivist ideas. This article argues against the position that poststructuralism is just another version of constructivism and its argument is two-fold. Firstly, it builds a historiographical account of IR to remind that poststructuralism precedes constructivism, which itself owes a significant share of its intellectual roots to poststructuralism. Secondly, using the distinction between conventional and critical constructivism, the article highlights that the dividing lines between constructivism and poststructuralism are not clearly defined but have been blurred by the emergence of critical constructivism."
Draft Papers by Théo Aiolfi
Paper under review, available upon request
"As a consequence of its performative turn, the criti... more Paper under review, available upon request
"As a consequence of its performative turn, the critical literature on populism has dedicated increasing attention to its socio-cultural and stylistic features. Among the most prominent concepts underpinning this approach is the notion that populism relies on the “flaunting of the low” or the use of “bad manners”. This article engages in an extensive discussion of the way this concept is used in the literature and showcases its main limitations. In replacement, I then suggest the alternative concept of transgression, understood as the violation of a norm, which has the substantial advantages of being more flexible and versatile, as well as less reliant on a normative binary. I then develop an associated typology of transgressive performances depending on which type of norms is being disrupted: transgressions of interactional norms, transgressions of rhetoric norms and transgressions of theatrical norms. This article then concludes on the potential of considering transgression beyond populism."
"Even among the various Latin American leaders associated with populism, Jair Bolsonaro stands ou... more "Even among the various Latin American leaders associated with populism, Jair Bolsonaro stands out as one of the most abrasive and extreme examples of the phenomenon. Adopting an interdisciplinary perspective that conceptualises populism as a performed political style, this paper will engage with the specific practices and performances deployed by Bolsonaro, focusing more specifically on those related to the COVID-19 health crisis. In examining these performances, a central point is Bolsonaro's reliance on a binary heteronormativity and gendered ethos which was further exacerbated by the urgency of the global pandemic. This paper will explore how, through his calls for the Brazilian people to "enfrentar vírus como homem e não como moleque", Bolsonaro mobilises hegemonic masculinity to infantilise those who fall sick while undermining criticisms to his problematic management of the pandemic. In this paper, we will develop a holistic analysis of several of Bolsonaro's performances after the beginning of the COVID-19 health crisis in Brazil to assess the way he articulates his identity in relationship with the people. We argue that performances of identity in the populist style are based on the projection of strength and health, which are associated in a conservative ideology with performing hegemonic masculinity and heteronormativity. Conversely, we demonstrate that associating femininity and queerness with weakness serves as the flip side of these gendered performances of identity. Lastly, by situating Bolsonaro's own brand of populism in a history of uneven and unequal developments across gender, race and class in a vast and complex country such as Brazil, the concluding aim of this paper is to consider crisismaking practices in populist politics in the context of a global health crisis that Bolsonaro was ideologically ill-equipped to tackle."
Book Reviews by Théo Aiolfi
Newsletter of the Populism Specialist Group (PSA), 2021
Book review for "Populism", written by Benjamin Moffitt (2020)
(Newsletter of the Populism Speci... more Book review for "Populism", written by Benjamin Moffitt (2020)
(Newsletter of the Populism Specialist Group Political Studies", Issue 3 – February 2021)
p.17-18
European Journal of Theatre and Performance, 2019
Book Chapters by Théo Aiolfi
"Tidal Waves: The political economy of migration and populism in Europe" (edited by Leila Simona Talani and Matilde Rosina), 2019
"As an essentially contested concept, populism has yet to reach an academic consensus regarding i... more "As an essentially contested concept, populism has yet to reach an academic consensus regarding its definition. Following Moffitt’s approach and enriching it with the insights of performance studies, this chapter will develop the concept of performances of urgency and apply it to the concept of crisis. While many scholars assume that populist parties thrive especially in times of crisis, this chapter argues instead that it is one of the defining features of populist leaders to perform a sense of crisis, in order to spread a general perception of threat. In the case of right-wing populist leaders, migration is the key culprit at the heart of these performances of urgency and crisis. To develop this empirical case, this chapter will analyse Marine Le Pen as a performer of urgency by analysing two complementary sources: one of her most important speeches at a political rally in Paris and her official campaign video clip. By doing so, this paper intends to emphasise the strengths of this alternative approach to populism as well as showcasing the potential for productive interdisciplinary collaboration between political science and performance studies."
(https://www.peterlang.com/view/title/71875?)
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Papers by Théo Aiolfi
Draft Papers by Théo Aiolfi
"As a consequence of its performative turn, the critical literature on populism has dedicated increasing attention to its socio-cultural and stylistic features. Among the most prominent concepts underpinning this approach is the notion that populism relies on the “flaunting of the low” or the use of “bad manners”. This article engages in an extensive discussion of the way this concept is used in the literature and showcases its main limitations. In replacement, I then suggest the alternative concept of transgression, understood as the violation of a norm, which has the substantial advantages of being more flexible and versatile, as well as less reliant on a normative binary. I then develop an associated typology of transgressive performances depending on which type of norms is being disrupted: transgressions of interactional norms, transgressions of rhetoric norms and transgressions of theatrical norms. This article then concludes on the potential of considering transgression beyond populism."
Book Reviews by Théo Aiolfi
(Newsletter of the Populism Specialist Group Political Studies", Issue 3 – February 2021)
p.17-18
https://journal.eastap.com/2019/01/21/performing-antagonism-theatre-performance-radical-democracy-edited-by-tony-fisher-and-eve-katsouraki/
Book Chapters by Théo Aiolfi
(https://www.peterlang.com/view/title/71875?)
"As a consequence of its performative turn, the critical literature on populism has dedicated increasing attention to its socio-cultural and stylistic features. Among the most prominent concepts underpinning this approach is the notion that populism relies on the “flaunting of the low” or the use of “bad manners”. This article engages in an extensive discussion of the way this concept is used in the literature and showcases its main limitations. In replacement, I then suggest the alternative concept of transgression, understood as the violation of a norm, which has the substantial advantages of being more flexible and versatile, as well as less reliant on a normative binary. I then develop an associated typology of transgressive performances depending on which type of norms is being disrupted: transgressions of interactional norms, transgressions of rhetoric norms and transgressions of theatrical norms. This article then concludes on the potential of considering transgression beyond populism."
(Newsletter of the Populism Specialist Group Political Studies", Issue 3 – February 2021)
p.17-18
https://journal.eastap.com/2019/01/21/performing-antagonism-theatre-performance-radical-democracy-edited-by-tony-fisher-and-eve-katsouraki/
(https://www.peterlang.com/view/title/71875?)