The literature on populism has often concentrated on the European extreme right or on populist politics in Latin America, often with a strong historical slant. However, the two literatures have often failed to relate to each other carefully, and have consequently failed to grasp the full array of populist dynamics which characterise much of recent politics in an increasing variety of contexts. They have also failed to clearly identify the recent pivotal role of the mass media, particularly the tabloid press and commercial television, and dynamics of personalisation of politics and ‘soft populism’ of non-extremist parties. This workshop will address the populist phenomenon in a clear comparative context, and focus on both left and right wing populism, linking Latin American and European experiences. ‘Populism’ is a word that recurs frequently with reference to the politics of several European and Latin American countries. But the use of this concept is often unclear. This workshop will seek to clarify the meanings of populism and its social and political consequences.