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

White Supremacism

Identification

White supremacists are a group of people with the belief that the white race is superior to any other race and that they should be given the rights to rule over their society. These supremacists have a large impact on the equality within America and around the world. The Ku Klux Klan has been a very influential supremacist group throughout history in the United States. They KKK was founded in 1865 and publicly reemerged in 1915. However, discrimination and racism has been around forever. This ‘Klan’ and all that they stand for continue to reappear as time goes on. White supremacy can be most dominantly seen in the United States, Germany, South Africa and Russia.

Historical Significance

The notion of white supremacy is important to be discussed because the people of a society need to become more aware of other’s belief systems, as well as how society itself has developed throughout history in ultimately encouraging racism within the country. This can be most predominately seen in the United States. The idea of white people being superior to other races and the ideology behind the Ku Klux Klan has been present for an extremely long time, although it may have been more dormant at different times. Recently, however, white supremacy has resurfaced in a more powerful way than imagined. Racism can be deeply rooted in American history and these previous events can still be present within any type of discrimination happening currently. The Ku Klux Klan historically express the growth of the United States as a powerful ‘white nation’ created by white people themselves. Some of these beliefs made, more notably by the Ku Klux Klan don’t believe that they are being racist. They think that black people should not complain about previous events in history that have happened and that their white race is being discriminated against in the same way that black people have and are currently suffering.

Key Historical Proposals

Throughout history, there has been many key characters who have spoken about, been a part of or tried to deter white supremacy. The most significant movement which supported the notion of white supremacy, is Nazism. This ideology, lead by Adolf Hitler, believed that the Aryan race was to be more powerful and superior to any other. Through this movement came the Holocaust, which attempted to destroy an entire race. This can be contradictory to Abraham Lincoln’s outlook on equality. This President was in charge of one of the most important civil rights movements in the United States. He is considered one of the most influential presidents due to the fact that he emancipated slavery and tried to establish and ensure a discriminatory free country. If you fast forward 152 years through American Presidencies, you can easily make comparisons to the 2017 President, Donald Trump. Throughout his time as President he has come across many displays of discrimination and white supremacy. As a result, President Trump has done nothing to deter these types of actions. There are many politicians or leaders, that have had their encounters with the notion of white supremacy. However, it is clear, the problems of the past are still present today.

Emily Srebot

 

Bibliography

McLemore, Dale. Racial and Ethnic Relations in America. Allyn and Bacon, 1991. Novick, Michael. White Lies White Power. Common Courage Press, 1995.

Pannell, William. The Coming Race Wars? A Cry for Reconciliation. Zondervan Publishing House, 1993.