Populism, Democracy and Covid-19

Presented May 2021

Join us to reflect on the history of populism and democracy, as prompted by the bicentenary of Napoleon Bonaparte's death, explore Australia's populist past and consider the impact of Covid-19 on current day politics and law.

Peter McPhee: The bicentenary of the death of Napoleon Bonaparte is a fertile moment to reflect on ‘populism’, for here was the archetypal ‘man on horseback’ who inspired astonishing personal devotion, someone who justified his power as the popular will and yet cynically manipulated that will when necessary.

Peter McPhee is Chair of the History Council of Victoria and Emeritus Professor of History at the University of Melbourne. He is an historian of revolutionary France and biographer of Maximilien Robespierre.

Jon Piccini: On the mainstream origins of populism: While often seen as a recent phenomenon practiced by political outsiders, my research on human rights in Australia shows that the populist playbook – xenophobia, bordering, and alarm at the encroachment of international institutions – has older roots in mainstream political life.

Jon Piccini is Lecturer in History at Australian Catholic University. He researches Australian history from a global perspective, and his most recent book is Human Rights in Twentieth-Century Australia (Cambridge, 2019).

Imogen Saunders: Populism, international law and COVID-19: reflecting on the increased backlash against international law in the face of the pandemic.

Dr Imogen Saunders is an Associate Professor at the ANU College of Law. She researches in international law, including the history of international law.

Alicia Cerreto, HCV Executive Officer hosted the evening, and Monash University's Dr Susie Protschky and Professor Al Thomson of History at Monash University facilitated the Q&A.

This webinar is part of an ongoing seminar series, Making Public Histories, that is offered jointly by the Monash University History Program, the History Council of Victoria and the Old Treasury Building. Each seminar aims to explore issues and approaches in making public histories. The seminars are open, free of charge, to anyone interested in the creation and impact of history in contemporary society. More information here: https://www.historycouncilvic.org.au/....

We thank the series sponsors, Monash University Publishing, the Monash University History Program and the Old Treasury Building.