Populism

Identification

First, it is important to note according to David Marquand, that Popularity and Populism are not the same. Populism has been a topic of debate for over 40 Years. Bonikowski outlines three assumptions he claims are most often found in academic research: “(1)populism is an ideology deeply held by political actors, much like liberalism or conservatism; (2) populism is inherently tied to right-wing politics, and (3) populism is a new feature of political culture.

However Bonikowski himself believed that populism is used by both left and right wings extremes and ultimately used to “challenge the status quo”.

Populism is perhaps no more than an ideology of “insurgent politicians”, and also a “worldview of the voters who support them.” Bonikoswi’s article addresses a critic made by Obama on whether media portrayals of Trump are in fact populist or rather something else, like opportunism. This outlines a greater discussion on whether populism has been used too loosely, and whether or not the concept overall is vague.

Historical Significance

In Jan-Werner Muller’s book What is Populism? a central theme rests in anti-totalitarian democratic thought. Muller outlines an account of Western Europe post Second World War. He points to a vulnerability towards populist temptation: This [populist leader] “rises up claiming that the system is rigged against the common man that only he/she can represent the economic social and political desires of the real people.” Ultimately, this populist notion can (in Muller’s

words) both “create crises” and allow for the resources and mechanisms for self correction”. Populism speaks to the desperation of individual members of society for a voice, for change, and ultimately for an advocate who will take up their plight. Populism for Muller does not signify “a political system so rigged that it must be overhauled. Rather it points to the failures of representative democracy, which for him nonetheless remains the vest form of government the has on offer.”

Key Historical Proponents

We can trace Populist movement all the way back to Robespierre and the Jacobins during the final stages of the French Revolution. They were in fact inspired by Rousseau himself, and the Jacobins led the first organized “Terror” in history. Robespierre said “The people is sublime, but individuals are weak.” Further on in the 19th century a group of famers formed a populist movement, the People’s Party, ultimately designed to bring reformation the current system at that time in order to have cheaper transportation and lessen credit. They were a voice for the people. Marquand says that “almost without exception populists promise national regeneration in place of decline,, decay and the vacillations and tergiversation’s of a corrupt establishment and the enervated elites that belong to it.” For example, Trump and his grand claim to “make America great again.”

Rebekah McNeilly

 

Bibliography

Three Lessons of Contemporary Populism in Europe and the United States, Bart Bonikowski

What is Populism?, Jan-werner Muller

The People is Sublime, David Marquand

The Logic of Populism, Daniel Steinmetz-Jenkins Dissent, Volume 64, Number 2, Spring 2017, pp. 186-189