7: Populism
- Page ID
- 290180
This page is a draft and is under active development.
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Introduction
Populism has become a political buzzword in the twenty-first century, and yet it remains an essentially contested concept. An early theorist of populism, Ernesto Laclau, recognized that “few [terms] have been defined with less precision. We know intuitively to what we are referring when we call a movement or an ideology populist, but we have the greatest difficulty in translating the intuition into concepts” (Laclau, 1977, p. 143). Populism has been used to describe distinctive social movements, political parties, leaders as well as a tradition of political thought. Unlike other ideologies, however, it is rare that leaders or parties self-identify as populists because populism has been imbued with negative connotations and often used as a derogatory term.
The vagaries of populism should not prevent theorists from trying to develop a suitable definition of it. One such definition has been provided by Cas Mudde and C.R. Kaltwasser (2017, p. 6), who define populism as “a ‘thin-centered’ ideology that considers society to be ultimately separated into two homogeneous and antagonistic groups, ‘the pure people’ versus ‘the corrupt elite,’ and which argues that politics should be an expression of the volonté générale (general will) of the people.” This definition reflects the populist assumption that there are fundamentally only two types of people in society: the ‘real’ or ‘pure’ people and a corrupt elite who are not merely out of touch, but also actively working against the interests of the ‘real people’. As such, the ‘real people’ are right to feel hostility and distrust towards elites, and this creates an antagonistic relationship between the two groups. A distinctive feature of populism is its angry style of politics – indeed, some have referred to populism as less an ideology and more a style of politics.
AI generated
These academic excerpts examine populism, defining it as a "thin-centered" ideology that simplifies society into a conflict between virtuous citizens and dishonest elites. The text identifies three foundational pillars—the pure people, the corrupt elite, and the general will—which allow the movement to attach itself to broader frameworks like socialism or nationalism. While the sources acknowledge that populism can democratize rigid systems by giving voice to the ignored, they also warn of its authoritarian tendencies and its rejection of liberal pluralism. Regional analyses trace the history of this phenomenon from nineteenth-century agrarian movements to contemporary leaders in Latin America, Europe, and North America. Ultimately, the material suggests that populism thrives on emotional politics and flourishes during periods of economic uncertainty or cultural transition.
- Discuss the core concepts and themes of the ideology.
- Explain the emergence of variants of populism in different contexts.
- Analyze the relationship between populism, democracy and other ideologies.
- Assess the future of populism.
AI generated
Based on the provided source, here are five learning objectives for a study of populism:
- Define and explain the three core concepts of populism—the ‘pure people’, the ‘corrupt elite’, and the ‘general will’—and describe how these concepts contribute to the ideology's characteristic "anti-politics" themes.
- Differentiate between left-wing and right-wing populism, specifically identifying how they attach to different "host ideologies" (such as socialism or nationalism) and how they vary in their stances on economic globalization, immigration, and social welfare.
- Analyze the complex relationship between populism and democracy, assessing how populist movements can act as both a corrective force for neglected groups and a corrosive threat to the institutions of liberal and representative democracy.
- Compare regional manifestations of populism across different contexts, such as the long-standing tradition of caudillismo in Latin America, the rise of nativist parties in Europe, and the regionalized mobilization typical of North American populism.
- Evaluate "demand-side" and "supply-side" theories for the rise of populism, including economic factors like the "losers of globalization," cultural backlashes against multiculturalism, and the perceived centralization of mainstream political parties.
- 7.1: Core Concepts and Themes
- Populism is defined by three core concepts: the "pure people," the "corrupt elite," and the "general will" . At its heart is the idea of popular sovereignty, where legitimate authority comes only from the people, while a constructed "elite" (political, economic, or cultural) is framed as an enemy working against them . Beyond these concepts, populism is characterized by "anti-politics" themes, including anger toward the political establishment, distrust of intermediary institutions like the judi
- 7.2: Variants of Populism
- Because populism is a "thin-centered" ideology lacking a consistent vision for society, it must attach itself to "host ideologies" like socialism or nationalism . Left-wing populism combines with socialism to focus on economic issues and austerity backlashes, while right-wing populism merges with nationalism to create a nativist, anti-immigrant, and anti-globalization stance . Both variants generally reject pluralism (diversity) and liberalism (individual rights and separation of powers) in favo
- 7.3: History of Populism
- This section explores the complex relationship between populism and democracy, noting that while populism endorses direct democracy (referenda), it is at odds with liberal democracy . Populism can be a corrective force by giving voice to ignored groups, but it can also be corrosive by suppressing minority rights and moralizing politics to the point where compromise is impossible . Ultimately, the source argues that populism advocates for an authoritarian form of democracy.
- 7.4: Populism in the Contemporary Era
- Populism is highly contextual and localized, with roots stretching back to 19th-century movements in France, Russia, and the United States . Contemporary regional patterns are influenced by political structures: presidential systems (like Latin America) tend to produce personalist leaders, while parliamentary systems (like Europe) often incentivize the rise of new populist parties . It has emerged more recently in regions with younger democracies, such as Asia.
- 7.5: Latin American Populism
- Latin America has the longest history of populism, often intertwined with the caudillo culture of strong, charismatic leaders . This region demonstrates the ideology's malleability, with regimes ranging from the right-wing Perónism in Argentina to neoliberal populists like Peru's Alberto Fujimori and the left-wing "Movement toward Socialism" led by Evo Morales in Bolivia.
- 7.6: European Populism
- Historically a marginal force, European populism surged in the 21st century, primarily as a nativist, right-wing response to the 2008 recession and the 2015 immigration crisis . Significant examples include the UKIP-led Brexit movement and the rise of the National Rally in France . In some Eastern European and peripheral cases like Hungary, Poland, Turkey, and Russia, populism has led to the subversion of liberal democratic functions.
- 7.7: North American Populism
- In North America, populism was traditionally characterized by regionalized mobilization and weak organizational capacity, such as the 1890s People’s Party in the U.S. or the Reform Party in Canada . Trumpism represented a major shift as the first national-scale success for a populist leader in the United States . Canada continues to see "angry" populist politics at the provincial level, often as a way for voters to express frustration with federal politics.
- 7.8: Asian and Australasian Populism
- In Asia, populism has gained ground in younger or less consolidated democracies, with notable leaders like Rodrigo Duterte in the Philippines emphasizing "law and order" and Narendra Modi in India focusing on Hindu nationalism . In Australia and New Zealand, right-wing populist parties like One Nation and New Zealand First emerged in the 1990s but have largely remained fringe movements.
- 7.9: The Future of Populism
- The rise of populism is explained by demand-side theories (economic "losers of globalization" and cultural backlash) and supply-side theories (mainstream party centralization and the salience of single issues) . The source concludes that populism is not a brief anomaly but a long-term "populist turn" that will continue to grow as more countries consolidate as representative democracies . Even when populist leaders lose elections, their influence persists by forcing mainstream parties to adopt th
Attribution
Dr. Conrad King, "Populism: 'The Will of the People'"? CC BY-NC 4.0.