Social movements: between democratic difference and populism

Abstract

The main aim of this paper is to analyze social movements as a significant aspect of the society that is politically engaged. The plane located between democratic difference and popu-lism will be the basis for scientific reflection. The article is divided into four parts. The first one indicates that the Derridean concept of democracy plays a pivotal role in the position of social movements context. Secondly, the notion of democratic difference will be launched and described as the form of deciding on conflicts amongst society. Next, the article deals with the process of the creation of social movements. The limits of the law and current politics will be reconstrued. Finally, the theoretical framework that has been established, will be put up against the case study of two social movements : The All-Poland Women’s Strike and Fridays for Future. The social movements’ aspiration to change the law allows us to explain the phenomenon of populism that combines both political conflict and the emancipation of human rights.