The conference examines the link between populism, civil society and democracy and, more specifically, the link between civil society, social movements and populism. In this context it will specifically focus on the role of populism and anti-politics in contemporary European politics. We intend to examine how and when ‘bad civil society’ is formed, and what effects it has for European politics. The relation between populism, anti-politics and civil society will be discussed in relation to empirical cases in a variety of European countries,  populist parties of both the (extreme) right and the left. We will also focus on key historical examples of populist politics.