Constructing identity through humour in left-wing populism

It is widely acknowledged that we are living through a
'populist moment'. Politics is becoming more emotional
and polarised. Understood according to Laclau's populist
logic, the old discursive order has left a critical number of
demands unsatisfied; these demands have grouped
together and found representation under empty signifiers.
The force behind this grouping of demands is affective, and
through this process political identities are formed.
There has been much research into this populist moment.
Most has tended to follow rationalist orthodoxy and ignored
or downplayed affect as a valid component of politics.
Recently, research has brought affect back into the study of
populism. However, it has mostly been studied separately
from reason. More recently, researchers have begun to
approach affect and reason as interrelated phenomena. My
work is positioned in this school.
I will explore the interplay between discourse and affect in
constructing collective identities in left-wing populism. In
an original contribution to this ongoing debate, I will focus
on humour, as it is simultaneously both affective and
discursive, and prevalent in my case studies. My research
will compare the role of humour in Podemos, La France
Insoumise and Momentum/Labour communities. Focusing
on supporters of these populist projects rather than leaders,
I will explore how humour mobilises affects and provides a
means for supporters to influence discourse - putting the
'people' back into populism.