This workshop aims to develop a robust conceptual and empirical framework for understanding bureaucratic populism—a phenomenon wherein populist narratives and strategies are adopted or enabled by military, judicial, and bureaucratic institutions. Bringing together scholars from ASEAN, South Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East, the roundtable will explore how these institutions contribute to or resist populist political projects across diverse political systems.

We invite paper proposals that explore the intersections between populism and bureaucracy, including (but not limited to):

• Militarization of populist governance
• Judicial complicity and resistance in populist regimes
• Bureaucratic gatekeeping and populist patronage
• Authoritarian legality and technocratic populism
• Institutional reshaping and norm erosion in hybrid regimes
• Historical comparisons of bureaucratic populism
• Cross-regional trends and theoretical innovation

The workshop seeks to refine the theoretical architecture for studying bureaucratic populism and identify cross-regional patterns, thereby contributing to a potential special issue in a Q1 journal. It will also serve as a platform to strengthen international academic collaborations and lay the groundwork for competitive international grant applications.

Please submit a 300-word abstract and a short bio (max. 150 words) to m.omer@deakin.edu.au by 31 June 2025.

Selected participants will be notified by 15 July 2025. Draft papers (3,000–4,000 words) will be due prior to the workshop to facilitate in-depth discussion.

HDR students and ECRs are particularly encouraged to apply. The workshop will provide mentorship opportunities and foster interdisciplinary dialogue.

For inquiries, please contact:
Dr Nicholas Morieson (Activity Lead) – nicholas.morieson@deakin.edu.au

• The Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation (ADI), Deakin University
• Politics and International Studies (POLIS), Deakin University
• European Center for Populism Studies (ECPS), Brussels, Belgium