What is Populism?
Populism is a style and a way of seeing politics more than a full ideology. Populists tell a simple story: society is split between honest ordinary people and a self-serving elite, and a leader or movement must give power back to the people. What the people want, and who counts as one of them, depends on who is speaking. That is why populism shows up on the left and on the right, and why its economic views and cultural views differ from one movement to another. Scholars often call it thin, because it must attach itself to other beliefs.
Core beliefs
- Society is divided between a pure people and a corrupt elite.
- The will of the people should decide, and rules that block it are suspect.
- Leaders should speak directly for ordinary citizens.
- Experts, big business, the press and officials often protect their own interests.
- Institutions that do not serve the people should be shaken up or replaced.
History
The word comes from two nineteenth century movements. In Russia in the 1860s and 1870s, the Narodniks went out to the villages to win over the peasants. In the United States, the People's Party of the 1890s was a farmers' revolt. It asked for an income tax, silver coinage and public control of railroads, and in 1896 it backed William Jennings Bryan. In the mid-twentieth century in Latin America, Juan Perón and Getúlio Vargas built movements based on unions and national pride. After the financial crisis of 2008, populist parties and candidates won ground in Europe, the Americas and elsewhere.
Variants
Right-wing populists define the people in national or cultural terms and target immigration, global trade deals and liberal elites. Left-wing populists define the people as workers and the poor, and aim at banks and wealthy owners. Latin American populism often joined nationalism, a strong president and union backing. Some movements mix both sides. The theorist Ernesto Laclau argued that populism is a normal part of democratic politics, since all parties try to build a people out of many groups.
Criticisms
Critics say populists treat all opponents as enemies of the people, which puts courts, a free press and minority rights at risk. They add that simple promises hide hard choices and that strongman rule often follows. Some say it stirs up anger without solving problems. Defenders say populism is a response to real failures: stagnant wages, closed political classes and parties that ignore voters. They argue it brings neglected people into politics.
In practice
Populists have held office in many countries, and results vary widely. Some governments raised wages and wealth transfers, and some gave workers a stronger voice. Others weakened courts, pressured the media or ran up debts. On the 12 axes, it scores close to the middle on most economic and moral axes, but leans toward Protected on Trade and toward Strong leader on Authority, because the stress on the people often goes with a stress on a leader.