What is Right Populism?
Populism splits politics into two camps: the plain people and a corrupt or out-of-touch elite. Scholars call it a thin ideology, since it needs a fuller creed to give it content. On the right, that creed is usually nationalism, plus social conservatism. The elite in this telling is made up of mainstream parties, judges, the press, universities and international bodies. Right populists say the nation has lost control of its borders, laws and identity, and they promise to give it back. Their opponents see a threat to minorities and to the checks that limit power. Their supporters see a long-overdue voice for ignored voters.
Core beliefs
- Ordinary people are at odds with elites who ignore them.
- The nation's own voters should decide, not distant bodies or courts.
- Immigration should be lower and better controlled.
- Crime should be met with firm policing and strong sentences.
- National culture, family and tradition deserve protection.
- Referendums and direct appeals to voters carry more legitimacy than expert rulings.
History
Historians usually start in the postwar West. In France in the 1950s, the shopkeeper Pierre Poujade led a revolt against taxes and the capital's politicians. In the early 1970s, protest parties against taxes and the welfare bureaucracy rose in Denmark and Norway, with Mogens Glistrup as the Danish face. From the 1980s and 1990s, many European parties moved their focus to immigration, crime and the European Union. The United States saw its own populist waves, often mixing rural and working-class anger with distrust of Washington. In the 2000s and 2010s right populist parties grew in many democracies and several entered government.
Variants
Some right populists are free-market and want low taxes and less regulation. Others are protectionist, and want strong pensions and jobs for citizens. This mix is sometimes called welfare chauvinism. Some are religious, while others are secular and defend national culture in non-religious terms. Regional forms want more autonomy from a national capital, and national forms aim at the whole country against outside bodies.
Criticisms
Critics on the left say it blames immigrants and minorities for problems that have economic causes, and that its policies can fuel discrimination. Liberal critics warn that the claim to speak for one united people can be used to undercut judges, journalists and minority rights. Many economists say tariffs and migration limits raise prices and cut growth. Some conservatives argue that it depends too much on personalities and anger and too little on institutions. Defenders answer that it speaks for voters whom mainstream parties ignored on immigration, sovereignty and economic change.
In practice
Right populists have shaped policy through stricter immigration and asylum rules, more referendums on European and global questions, and more use of tariffs and border controls. In government they have often pushed changes to citizenship law, policing and media rules. Their success has pulled some mainstream parties toward firmer lines on borders and national identity. On the 12 axes it scores very high toward National identity on Culture, strongly toward Strength on Foreign policy, and strongly toward Protected on Trade.