The haunted discipline: on the political nature of folklore and the political destiny of its study

Some theoretical considerations on the intrinsic political aspect of the so called "folklore" as the culture of subaltern classes or groups, and, as well, on the recurrent political use of its valorization as a tool for building nationalistic consensus or adhesion to totalitarian orders. The article suggests that notwithstanding an enduring trend to avoid a confrontation with political topics or contexts of folklore, a dialogue with a political engagement and commitment is a permanent and substantial trait of folklore studies, so that even a neutralistic approach eventually may act as a political stance. Such a trend is nowadays re-emerging within the heritage approach that is taking the scene (and the resources) of folklore scholarship at the global scale, making therefore necessary a critical stance, pivoting on the remind of the social and political root of folk culture.