Wie beobachten? Was tun? Perspektiven der Kritischen Systemtheorie

Siri, Jasmin; Möller, Kolja

doi:10.1515/9783839433232-001

Cited by 2 publications

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“…In recent years, a whole strand of research has developed a critical systems theory approach for the study of politics, law, and constitutionalism. It draws on the insights of systems theory as elaborated by scholars such as the German sociologist Niklas Luhmann and the legal theorist Gunther Teubner and connects them with theoretical resources of the critical theory tradition, most notably with the works of Karl Marx and the first generation of the Frankfurt School (Fischer-Lescano, 2012; Möller and Siri, 2015, 2016; Schecter, 2019; Overwijk, 2020). 4 According to critical systems theory, a sound analysis of modern societies has to begin with the evolution of social systems.…”

Section: Popular Sovereignty and Populismmentioning

confidence: 99%

Populism and the political system: A critical systems theory approach to the study of populism

Möller

2022

Philosophy & Social Criticism

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This article outlines a critical systems theory approach to the study of populism by arguing that populism is an avenue of contestation which assumes a distinct role and function in the existing constitution of the political system. Most notably, it is characterised by the re-entry of a popular sovereignty dimension within regular political procedures. By taking up a critical systems theory perspective, it becomes possible to more precisely distinguish populism from other forms of politics, such as oppositional politics, social movement politics or procedural constitutional politics. Further, populism’s oscillation between democratic and authoritarian dynamics can be elucidated as an inversion which operates from within its political form. Finally, it is argued that the critical systems theory approach provides a more nuanced understanding of populism’s inherent problems and, consequently, moves beyond a blunt defence or rejection of populism as such.

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