7. populism Flashcards
(12 cards)
historical origins of populism
First Usage: The term populism was first reported in U.S. newspapers in 1891–1892.
Context: Emerged in the mid-to-late 19th century in the United States.
Early Forms:
Nativist populism: Aimed to protect American national identity from immigration and outside influence.
Agrarian populism: Came from the agricultural sector, focusing on economic redistribution. It opposed the wealthy capitalist elite, blaming them for economic inequality.
def populism
Populism is a political approach characterized by:
Division: Society is split into two antagonistic groups:
“The pure people”
“The corrupt elite”
Ideology Type: It is a thin-centered ideology—not a full ideology like socialism or liberalism, but something that can be combined with others.
Core Beliefs:
Politics should reflect the general will of the people.
Populists often claim to represent the silent majority.
They mobilize one group (usually “the people”) against another (usually “the elites” or “outsiders”).
3 core caracteristics of populist leaders
Populist leaders often show these traits:
Simplistic solutions to complex problems (e.g. “Build a wall” or “Leave the EU”).
Us vs. Them rhetoric (dividing society into friends vs. enemies).
Authoritarian tendencies – they often support elections but dislike institutional checks and balances like courts or a free press.
nativist vS redistributionist populists
*Nativist Populism
-Targets immigrants and “outsiders” as threats to national unity.
-Deeply tied to nationalism and anti-internationalism.
-Emphasizes protecting national identity and sovereignty.
-Common in right-wing populism.
*Redistributionist Populism
-Focuses on economic inequality.
-Targets wealthy elites, big corporations, or privileged classes.
-May be critical of globalization, but not always anti-globalist.
-More likely to support international cooperation, but with fairer terms.
-Common in left-wing populism, especially in the Global South.
✅ Both types of populism:
-Are anti-elite.
-Create a core group (“the people”) and rally them against an out-group (e.g. immigrants or the wealthy).
-Use a strong “us vs. them” narrative.
reasons behinf the rise of populism
*Disappointment with Elites:
-People’s expectations are not met by elite performance.
-Populists tap into frustration with the status quo.
*Popular Sovereignty:
The belief that the people, not elites or international institutions, should have the final say in politics.
*Economic Crises:
-In Europe, the Eurozone debt crisis exposed the inability of elites to act effectively.
-In the USA, although stock markets recovered after the crisis, many citizens remained worse off, especially outside big cities.
*Weak Democratic Governance:
Fragile or inefficient democratic systems can create openings for populist rhetoric.
*Globalization Losers:
Those negatively impacted by globalization often blame international organizations (IOs) like the WTO or EU.
*Cultural and Identity Threats:
Populists appeal to those who feel their cultural identity is under threat from immigration or social change.
left-wing vS right-wing populism
*Focus on: economic justice and redistribution vS cultural identity, immigration, and national sovereignty
*Enemy = domestic elites and corporate power vS immigrants, international elites, IOs
*Often more inclusive in rhetoric vS exclusive, defining who truly belongs
*Examples: Bernie Sanders, Syriza (Greece), Podemos (Spain) vS Donald Trump, Viktor Orbán, Marine Le Pen |
populism vS nationalism
*Populism:
A political style or ideology focused on the people vs. the elite.
Can exist on the left or right.
Seeks to express the “general will” of the people.
*Nationalism:
A political principle: the idea that nations should have their own state.
Focuses on national identity, pride, and sovereignty.
Can be non-oppositional (positive national pride) or exclusive (us vs. them).
Not all nationalists are populists, and not all populists are nationalists.
Example: A nationalist may focus on national pride and independence without blaming others, while a populist adds an antagonistic dynamic (e.g., blaming elites or foreigners).
how does nationalism relates to populism in IOs
When populism (especially redistributionist or anti-elite) combines with nationalism or nativism, it becomes especially threatening to international cooperation.
This is because many International Organizations (IOs) are designed to promote:
Economic openness
Immigration
Shared sovereignty
🔥 Key idea: Populist-nationalist movements see these goals as a threat to “the people”, national identity, and national control.
Nativist populists argue that:
“The people” must be protected from external threats (immigrants, refugees, foreign economic actors).
International institutions represent foreign control, elite interests, or globalist agendas.
ex of Greece, UK and Italy on how populism and nationalism interact with IOs
Brexit (UK)
Populist message focused on taking back control from Brussels (EU).
Emphasis on sovereignty and immigration control.
Less focus on economic redistribution → More nativist nationalism than left-wing populism.
🔹 Greece and Italy (Eurozone Crisis)
Focused on redistributionist populism:
Blamed the EU and European Central Bank (ECB) for austerity and economic hardship.
Less concerned with immigration, more with economic justice and anti-austerity.
what’s new in about the recent wave of populist-nationalist movments?
Geographic Shift
In the 20th century, anti-IO sentiment was mostly found in the Global South, where developing countries felt marginalized.
But today, populist-nationalist backlash is rising in industrialized countries:
USA
UK
France
Italy
Hungary
This shift is due to:
The Great Recession (2008–2009)
The migration crisis (especially in Europe post-2015)
These crises exposed economic and social vulnerabilities in rich countries and were exploited by populist leaders to turn people against international institutions.
- More Openly Nativist Tone
Modern populist movements are more explicitly anti-immigrant and anti-globalist.
In both Europe and the U.S., there is rising hostility toward immigration, not just elites or economic inequality.
Cultural and identity concerns are now at the heart of many populist campaigns.
why do populist leaders delegitimize iOs (3 criteria)
Strategic reasons — it helps them build domestic political support.
IOs (like the EU, UN, IMF, or WTO) often support liberal, inclusive, globalist policies (e.g., migration, climate change, trade liberalization), which populists oppose.
Populist Gains from Delegitimizing IOs:
Create an “elite vs. people” narrative:
IOs = distant, elitist, unaccountable
Populist leaders = voice of the people
Exploit narratives around:
Sovereignty: “Let us take back control”
Identity: “Globalists don’t understand or respect our national traditions”
Selective criticism:
Populists don’t attack all IOs—only those that go against their agenda.
Example: Orbán criticizes the EU and UN on immigration or climate, but not necessarily on trade if it benefits Hungary.
🧠 Core idea: It’s not about effectiveness of IOs, but about who they represent and whose interests they serve.
populism, developing countries and IOs
Developing world populism has different historical roots:
Colonial history → inequality between core (industrialized) and periphery (resource exporters)
IOs seen as biased toward rich countries, denying equal voice and fair benefits
Key Themes:
Asymmetric Interdependence:
Developing countries provide raw materials, but don’t get fair returns or power in decision-making.
Demand for Reform, Not Exit:
Unlike some populists in rich countries, developing nations generally don’t want to destroy IOs.
They argue for:
More representation
More benefits
More development-focused cooperation
New International Economic Order (NIEO):
A major demand from the Global South in the 1970s.
Sought to restructure global economic governance in favor of fairer terms for poorer countries.
🧠 Core idea: Populism in the developing world often supports global cooperation, but calls for reform to make it more just and inclusive.
