EN Towards a Spatial Reading of On Populist Reason. Space, People, and Hegemony in Ernesto Laclau’s Populist Theory

Abstract

While the relationship between space and politics has become a key concern for critical thought since the 1960s, there is a noticeable gap in the theoretical reflection on space within post-foundational theories. This article seeks to address that gap by examining the role that space plays in the work of Ernesto Laclau, particularly in On Populist Reason (2005). Although Laclau does not theorize space in a direct or systematic manner, our reading of his work reveals that space has a ubiquitous presence. Laclau employs concepts, images, and assumptions that are grounded in spatial reflection, in such a way that allows us to insert the question of space into post-Marxist thought. Moreover, through a spatial reading of On Populist Reason, we argue that the book contains the basic theoretical elements for the development of a discursive theory of space. In this way, we attempt to articulate a connection between the theory of populism and the various approaches critical geography has taken toward the concept of space. This article is, therefore, a contribution to the dialogue between geography and one of the most current strands of contemporary political theory.