imPACT: Dialogues

Trump, the German AfD and the War on Ukraine: Conspiracy Theories and Populism

In this episode, tables are turned, as Katerina Hatzikidi interviews PACT PI Prof. Michael Butter about the general insights that the project has produced on the relationship between populism and conspiracy theory. "PACT: Populism and Conspiracy Theory" is a project funded with a Consolidator Grant by the European Research Council.

George Soros, Viktor Orbán and the Case of Hungary (with Lili Turza)

In this episode, Lili Turza explains why the label "populist" is no longer appropriate for the Fidesz party. She anaylzes the democratic backslidiung of the country and highlights to which degree conspiracy theories have been normalized in Hungary. "PACT: Populism and Conspiracy Theory" is a project funded with a Consoldiator Grant by the European Research Council.

A Close Look at the Austrian Freedom Party (with Constanze Jeitler)

In this episode, Constanze Jeitler talks about the various transformations of the Austrian Freedom Party (FPÖ) over the past decades. She focuses on the parties populist turn in the 1980s and discusses the shifting role of conspiracy theories for its leadership and members. "PACT: Populism and Conspiracy Theory" is a project funded with a Consolidator Grant by the European Research Council.

Conservatism and Conspiracism in Brazil (with Katerina Hatzikidi)

In this episode, Dr Katerina Hatzikidi talks about her ethnographic fieldwork with Bolsonaro supporters in Brazil. She discusses conspiracy theories around the 2022 presidential elections in light of popular grievances and a history of anti-communism and authoritarianism in the country. "PACT: Populism and Conspiracy Theory" is a project funded with a Consolidator Grant by the European Research Council.

The Rise and Transformation of the Italian 5-Star-Movement (with Giacomo Loperfido)

In this episode, Dr. Giacomo Loperfido talks about the ethnographic research he conducted with Italian 5-Star-Movement. He describes the party's shift from conspiracist populism to "normal" leftwing positions and analyzes the reasons. "PACT: Populism and Conspiracy Theory" is a project funded with a Consolidator Grant by the European Research Council.