7.10: Glossary

AI generated

Here is a glossary of key terms from the source material, ordered alphabetically:

• Anti-politics: A recurring theme in populism characterized by anger toward the political establishment, a distrust of intermediary institutions like the judiciary, and a reliance on emotional, often "angry," political styles.
• Austerity: Government-mandated reductions in welfare state spending, which served as a catalyst for left-wing populist movements in Europe and North America following the 2007–2009 financial crisis.
• Authoritarianism: A belief in or the practice of government "from above" that functions without the consent of the people.
• Bonapartism: A period of populist politics in 19th-century France under Louis Napoleon (Napoleon III), who catered to the peasantry and implemented plebiscitary democracy before declaring himself Emperor.
• Caudillos: Military strongmen who dominated Latin American politics from the early 19th century until the late 20th century. This culture of "caudillismo" continues to influence Latin American populism through its veneration of strong, charismatic leaders.
• Corrupt elite: A group constructed by populists as the enemy of the people. This "establishment" is accused of ignoring the people's interests to serve their own and can include political, economic, cultural, or media figures.
• Cultural backlash theory: A "demand-side" explanation suggesting that populism appeals to citizens who feel they no longer recognize their community due to the perceived threats of immigration and multiculturalism.
• Demand-side (theories): Explanations for the rise of populism that focus on the factors leading citizens to "demand" populist alternatives, such as economic grievances or cultural backlashes.
• Fascism: An ideology that rejects democracy entirely, exalts the will of a charismatic leader, and views violent struggle as a legitimate means to power. While linked to right-wing populism, it differs in its rejection of the "democratic game".
• General will: Also known as the popular will, it is the ultimate source of legitimate authority in populist thought. Populist leaders claim to know this will immediately, often based on "common sense," rather than through public debate.
• Host ideology: A "thick" or "full" ideology (such as socialism or nationalism) that populism attaches to because it lacks a coherent vision for society on its own.
• Left-wing populism: A combination of populism and socialism that typically focuses on economic issues and backlashes against austerity.
• Liberal democracy: A form of representative democracy where the power of the majority is constrained by principles that protect individual rights and the separation of powers.
• Liberalism: An ideology centered on the protection of individual rights and the separation of government powers, which populists often reject in favor of unchecked majority rule.
• Manichean worldview: A perspective that sees the world in binary terms of absolute good versus evil, often framed by populists as "Us versus Them".
• Narodnichestvo: An unsuccessful 19th-century Russian populist movement where urban elites attempted to mobilize the rural peasantry.
• Nativism: A xenophobic national identity that excludes "others," particularly immigrants, and is often a central component of right-wing populism.
• Perónism: A highly malleable Argentinian populist movement that spans the political spectrum from right to left, centered on the legacy of leader Juan Domingo Perón.
• Pluralism: A commitment to diversity in political and cultural beliefs, which is generally rejected by populists who view society as a uniform whole.
• Popular sovereignty: The concept that legitimate rule can only come directly from the people; it is a core tenet of populist ideology.
• Populism: A "thin-centered" ideology that views society as divided into two antagonistic groups—the "pure people" and the "corrupt elite"—and argues that politics should express the general will of the people.
• Pure people: A constructed and often ill-defined group that populist leaders claim to represent. They are framed as the only legitimate source of political authority.
• Right-wing populism: A combination of populism and nationalism that defines the "pure people" through a unified national identity and views immigration and globalization as existential threats.
• Supply-side (theories): Explanations for populism focusing on the "supply" of populist parties and leaders, such as the centralization of mainstream parties or the strategic focus on single high-salience issues.
• Thin-centered ideology: An ideology that lacks a consistent or coherent set of claims about how society should be organized, requiring it to attach to other "host" ideologies to function.