Toward the critique of punitive populism1

Abstract

This paper presents the main theses of what in recent years I have analyzed under the concept of punitive populism, seen as a complex phenomenon that conflates penal policy with politics, criminology and even moralism in social media. Thus, in order to present my critical outlines, I offer in the second section a definition of punitive populism, while in the third section I explore its relationship with media criminology, in order to, in the fourth section, develop my ideas on punitive populism and moralism in social networks. In the fifth section I expose the legislative and penal consequences of punitive populism and, finally, in the sixth section, I present a normative proposal to reduce the effects of punitive populism.