Recent events have once again made visible the extensive influence of non-rational and affective elements within the sphere of politics. To theorize this experience, numerous scholars have turned to the concept of political myth. Yet, there is no consensus on what political myths are or what function they fulfill. While some commentators argue that the power of myth over politics has come to increase at the expense of truth, others hold that our current predicament follows in part from an absence of productive, political myths. By contrast, a third camp claims that myth constitutes a political constant (the continued importance of which has, however, been severely overlooked). This summer we look forward to discussing this and related issues, with a particular focus on the relationship between political myth and critique.

INVITED SPEAKERS
Stefan Arvidsson, Linnaeus University
Karolina Enquist Källgren, Stockholm University
Mats Rosengren, Uppsala University