Populism

Question 1

What do populists perceive themselves as…?

Answer 1

Populists see themselves as true democrats, voicing popular grievances and opinions systematically ignored by governments , mainstream parties and the media.

Question 2

What is populism?

Answer 2

Populism in modern democratic societies is best seen as an appeal to “the people” against both the established structure of power and the dominant ideas and values of society.

Question 3

How come populism is not just anti-system?

Answer 3

This is because it’s a revolt against established power holders AND elite values.

Question 4

What differs in populist movement?

Answer 4

The actual contend depends on the establishment that it is mobilising against. FLEXIBLE.

Question 5

How come it’s values are contextual? What is the populist movement resisting in Western societies ?

Answer 5

It depends on nature of elite and dominant political discourse?
elite culture is imbued with liberal values of individualism, multiculturalism ect. populism a resistance to that but not an ideology, different values in another ideological environment.

Question 6

How can populists claim legitimacy? (legitimating framework)

Answer 6

Because they are speaking for the people, democratic sovereign, not sectional interest of society.

Question 7

The claim to speak for the people can be identified in three different senses, list them. (Legitimating framework)

Answer 7

1. United people
2. Our people
3. Common people

Question 8

Elaborate on the appeal to the united people? (Legitimating framework)

Answer 8

united people; nation or country against parties and factions that divide it.
impatient with party strife and needs strong leadership where a charismatic individual is available to personify ALL interests of the nation. above party politics essentially.
The division and fighting is among those in power not among the people.

Question 9

Elaborate on the appeal to “our people” (Legitimating Framework)

Answer 9

divisive; ethnic kinth or kin, distinguish our people from those who do not belong (such as immigrants)

Question 10

Elaborate on the appeal to the “ordinary people” (Legitimating framework)

Answer 10

Not simply right wing, egalitarian aspect; mobilisation of ordinary people against privileged cosmopolitan elite who are often corrupt. Even though the ordinary are the majority, they are often overridden by elites ect.

Question 11

What is the populist style of politics?

Answer 11

• the style is democratic as in aimed at ordinary people.
• pride on simplicity and directness contrasting with the distrust of politicians evasiveness.
• Love transparency.
• EU politics is a sitting duck for populist critique, they believe complexity is unnecessary, solutions are simple.

Question 12

What is the populist mood of politics?

Answer 12

Not just a style, but a “characteristic mood” that engages normally unpolitical people as swept up by enthusiasm. a great renewal of the country. tendency for heightened emotions to be focused on a charismatic leader; close personal tie; Germany and Hitler.

Question 13

How is populism democratic?

Answer 13

Through it mobilising the people at grassroots, using direct democracy such as referendums and initiatives.

Question 14

What are democracy’s two faces and how does it cause populism?

Answer 14

Redemptive and pragmatic faces of democracy, based on Oakeshott politics of faith and politics of scepticism. The two faces are opposed but interdependent, and populism occurs in the gap between them.

Question 15

What is the slogan that could summarise pragmatic face of democracy?
What is the actual definition?

Answer 15

“Ballots not bullets”

“A system of processing conflicts without killing one another.”

Question 16

What is the slogan that could summarise redemptive face of democracy?
what is the actual definition?

Answer 16

“government of the people, by the people, for the people.”

That democracy holds out the idea of hope, of shaping our society.

Question 17

First contrast
What is democracy made up of? (pragmatic viewpoint)
“Democracy is a mode of coexistence that will prevent us killing each other through collection of rules…” Elaborate.
Peaceful coexistence/ better way of life

Answer 17

Pragmatically democracy is a way of coping with conflicting interests and views under conditions of mass mobilisation. Alternative to civil war or repression.
involves collection of institutions and practices to make power accountable.
Democracy is a method composed on multi party systems, free elections, pressure groups.
All there to increase participation.

Question 18

First contrast
What is democracy made up of? (redemptive viewpoint)
“Democracy is redemptive vision lead to salvation for all.” Elaborate
form of government/ way of life

Answer 18

Inherent in modern democracy; faith in secular redemption; promise of a better world through action of sovereign people (in tension with pragmatic face.)
pragmatism without redemptive impulse is a recipe for corruption.
vital pragmatic practices of accountability and contestation grow weak without democracy’s redemptive side.

Question 19

How does the first tension provide the conditions for populism to emerge?

Answer 19

When the gap opens up between grubby politics with little legitimacy (due to it being seen purely pragmatically) and haloed democracy, distance too much; populists move in, promise shining idea of democracy renewal that will inspire the people.

Question 20

Second contrast
What is democracy made up of? (pragmatic viewpoint)
“Form of government (complexity) an order in a complex world.” elaborate
form of government/ way of life.

Answer 20

democracy is a method, a way of running polity in complex world.
political and economic interdependence make the idea that we control all issues impossible promise.
economy not controlled by government or by individuals.

Question 21

Second contrast
What is democracy made up of? (redemptive viewpoint)
“Popular power (in charge of our own future) salvation will occur when we control own lives” elaborate
form of government/ way of life.

Answer 21

content of redemptive promise; power to the people- people take charge of own lives/ impact on issues.
democracy is ideal of popular sovereignty.

Question 22

How the second contrast provide the conditions for populism to emerge?

Answer 22

populism exploits gap between promise and performance.
the complexity of the world makes the promise that government make impossible.
e.g. nation states; gap between claim that govt represents the people and limited ability to ensure economic well being.
govt not entirely look after people’s interests, making it vulnerable to populist reactions.

Question 23

Third contrast
What is democracy made up of? (pragmatic viewpoint)
“Democratic institutions give rise to alienation, but needed to limit power/ make it more effective” elaborate

Answer 23

Democracy cannot function without alienating institutions that make power effective and lasting.
the promise of popular power is made good through a set of practices; not spontaneous.

Question 24

Third contrast
What is democracy made up of (redemptive viewpoint)
“Direct action (spontaneous popular expression) Strong anti institutional impulse within redemptive politics”

Answer 24

Within redemptive; deep revulsion against institutions that comes between people and their actions. They want direct action of people’s will.
The state is our state, not altogether alien to us.
most improved versions of democracy aim to reduce alienation by bringing polity closer; more expressive of the people.

Question 25

How does the third contrast provide the conditions for populism to emerge?

Answer 25

tension; democracy is a powerful form of government, if its legitimacy is recognised as our government, but to work as government, has to take institutional forms that are removed from popular expression.
needs institutions to democratically work but also lead to alienation.
populars appeal from people’s institutions to the people’s will or their spontaneous action.
populists can appeal past institutions to living people, proclaiming voice of people unmediated.
don’t need to follow procedures.
leader; makes politics personal.
e.g criminal justice; outcomes of legal due process and equality before the law often conflict with spontaneous popular sense of justice.

Question 26

What differs between populism and ideal/realism and liberal/illiberal?

Answer 26

look up the text to work this one out.