Affect and the Rise of Right-Wing Populism: Pedagogies for the Renewal of Democratic Education

This book uses affect theory to analyze the rise of right-wing populism in recent years and discusses the pedagogical implications for democratic education. It provides examples of how affect and emotion play a crucial role in the rise and reproduction of current right-wing populism. The author suggests ideas about affective pedagogies for educators to use (along with recognizing the risks involved) to renew democratic education. The chapters lay out the importance of harnessing the power of affective experiences and adopting strategic pedagogical approaches to provide affirmative practices that move beyond simply criticizing right-wing populism. The book consequently undermines the power of fascist and right-wing tendencies in public life and educational settings without stooping to methods of indoctrination. This volume is a valuable resource for researchers and policy-makers in education, political science and other related fields, who can utilize the affective complexities involved in combatting right-wing populism to their advantage.

Table of Contents:
Introduction; Part I. Scanning the Political Landscape of Right-Wing Populism: 1. The politics of shame in the age of Trump; 2. 'Trump Pedagogy' and the effective modes of right-wing populism; 3. The affective grounding of post-truth claims; 4. The (un)making of microfascism in schools and classrooms; Part II. Renewing Democratic Education: 5; Affirmative critique as a response to post-truth claims; 6. Agnostic emotiions/affects to counter far right rhetoric; 7. Reinvigorating the affective atmospheres of democratic education; Part III. Inventing Affective Pedagogies for Democratic Education: 8; Nuturing political emotions in the classroom; 9. Towards shared responsibility without invoking collective spirit; 10. Re-invisioning the sentimental in pedagogical discourse and practice; 11. For an anti-complicity pedagogy; Epilogue.

About the Author :
Michalinos Zembylas is Professor of Educational Theory and Curriculum Studies at the Open University of Cyprus as well as Honorary Professor and Chair for Critical Studies in Higher Education Transformation at Nelson Mandela University, South Africa. In 2016, he received the Distinguished Researcher Award in 'Social Sciences and Humanities' from the Cyprus Research Promotion Foundation.

Review :
'This beautifully conceived and written book demonstrates how the rise of right-wing populism is grounded in the cultural politics of affect. It also highlights how this basic realization demands new ways of imagining the possibilities of democratic education.' Fazal Rizvi, Professor Emeritus, University of Melbourne, Australia, and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA 'This timely book explores the challenges educators face with the rise of the far right, shedding light on the affective dimensions of ideological attachments with impressive cross-disciplinary breadth. Foregrounding the role emotions play in cognition, the author's synthesis moves beyond critique to enumerate affirmative pedagogical directions.' Megan Boler, Professor of Social Justice Education, University of Toronto, Canada 'The author continues his challenging work on emotion and affect by asking how right-wing populism gains affective power. After mapping his critique, he takes up the question of the renewal of anti-fascist, democratic education. He offers the invention of affective pedagogies that are simultaneously practical, theoretical, and political.' Marie Brennan, Extraordinary Professor of Education, Stellenbosch University, South Africa, and Adjunct Professor of Education, University of South Australia