Populism and Women’s Political Leadership

Lunch with the League Welcomes Andre Popescu

Andre Popescu will speak at Lunch with the League on Friday, September 13, 2019 from 12:00 – 1:00 pm at the Chocolate Café, 122 S. Michigan, South Bend.

Like populists, women in politics are often seen as "outsider" candidates who challenge the establishment. Some European female candidates, such as Margaret Thatcher, British Prime Minister 1979-1990, have been associated with populism but also part of the political establishment. Others, such as Marine Le Pen, leader of the French right-wing nationalist party, National Rally, have unashamedly courted the populist label.

This talk presents the traits of a populist leader which can be used as a checklist for establishing the populist nature of any other politicians and considers the nature of women's political leadership and its associations with populism. What are populist political traits? Can they be found in the two examples of  Thatcher, Le Pen, and other famous women in politics? What is the role of populism in U.S. politics? Do populist traits contribute to or hinder the success of women's political leadership?

Andrei Popescu teaches at the Université de Toulon et du Var, in Toulon, France, where he is completing his PhD thesis in political science on Margaret Thatcher and charisma. Areas of expertise include British politics, women and leadership, and the populist right in Europe. He is visiting Indiana University South Bend this fall as a part of a faculty exchange program.

This event is free and open to the public. Attendees are welcome to arrive early to purchase lunch before the talk.

Lunch with the League is a program of the League of Women Voters of the South Bend Area, a nonpartisan political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy. The League never endorses a political party or candidates. Membership is open to men and women of all ages. With 800 affiliates across the county, the League is one of the nation’s most trusted organizations. Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LWVSouthBend/.