Populism Flashcards
(5 cards)
What are the characteristics of right-wing populism?
Nationalism, anti-immigration rhetoric and anti-elitism, which frames a struggle of ‘pure people’ against perceived internal and external threats
Overall argument on what explains the rise
Economic and cultural explanations can account for the grievances within society, providing fertile ground for populism, but are insufficient to explain why right-wing populism has become so successful.
Instead the deliberate actions of influential populist party politicians and non-populists have been decisive in explaining the assent of right-wing populism
While structural conditions enabled right-wing populism, the agency of elites was crucial in transforming society’s discontent into political victories.
Economic explanations for the rise of populism
Stems from globalisation, deindustrialisation, and rising inequality. It made voters vulnerable to populist appeals, particularly among blue-collar workers who have experienced a slowdown in wage growth due to liberalised trade and competition
However, these economic explanations are not sufficient to explain the rise of right-wing populism.
Bartel who says economic hardship is not the primary driver of right-wing movements, as evidenced by Spain, where Vox gained traction not due to economic struggles but cultural and ideological factors such as opposition to immigration and European integration. Similairly Trump rise was primarily fuelled by conservative identity politics and racial attitudes rather than economic insecurity.
Hopkin & Blythe, who highlight how the failure of traditional political parties on both the right and left to adapt and respond to these economic changes and crises allowed populist parties to gain traction - shows agency as while economic grievances created the ground for populist leaders, the failed actions of traditional political party leaders to respond to it allowed right-wing populist leaders to gain popularity
Cultural explanations for the rise of populism
Crucial to link this to the agency of populist elites who mobilise on these cultural anxieties and non-populists who fail to. They facilitate what populist leaders can stand for.
Grzymala-Busse highlights how cultural explanations focus on the populist electorate, which can be characterised as older, male, religious, less educated, nationalist and strong supporters of traditional values who perceive mainstream elites as dismissive of their concerns. Populists claim that elites have grown unresponsive and that the public needs better representation
Hopkin & Blythe perceives that mainstream parties on both the centre-left and centre-right have failed to articulate clear ideological distinctions in their policies, creating a political vacuum that populists fill
The role of the media in the rise of populism
The media coverage it receives amplifies their influence and success
Bartels criticises the “populist wave” narrative, arguing media coverage exaggerates the significance of populist parties, which in turn fuels their legitimacy
Bartel- The media’s fascination with populism has a significant impact on the polls as it creates a self-fulfilling prophecy where populist parties are seen as viable alternatives to the status quo, which can reinforce their appeal to voters who may not have otherwise considered them viable alternatives
Bartel argues that the media pays disproportionate attention to populist parties’ electoral successes, ignoring their struggles and downturns, which can, in turn, contribute to the perception that populism is a growing force. Example of the pro-Brexit UK Independence Party, which found that its electoral successes received disproportionate attention in the press, which in turn helped generate additional popular support
