DAT lecture 12 - populism and (liberal) democracy
host ideology for right wing populism
nativism
liberal democracy
- constitutional pillar - to do with restraints on what the govt can/cannot do - checks and balances on executive - minority/individual rights - protections against govt violating free speech
why do people vote for populist parties?
- depends on host ideology - cultural (immigration), economic, political (elites unresponsive, corrupt, distrusting of system) - a lot more that divides left/right wing populists than unites them, therefore relies on host ideology
electoral democracy
- popular pillar - Dahl's polyarchy - empowering citizens
why is populism a contested concept?
- roots in agrarian enterprise (seen as economic and social pillar back in 19th century) - agrarian movement represents the people - clashed with Marxists who only represent the working class - question is what binds the different experiences of populism, is there a common core
Mudde
"populism is an illiberal democratic response to undemocratic liberalism"
populism
a thin-centred ideology that considers society to be ultimately separated into 2 homogenous and antagonistic groups, 'the pure people' and 'the corrupt elite', and which argues that politics should be an expression of the general will of the people (Mudde)
liberalism unchecked by democracy
can easily deteriorate into oligarchy or technocracy (Berman)
democracy unchecked by liberalism
can slide into excessive majoritarianism or oppressive populism (Berman)
cambridge definition of populism
political ideas and activities that are intended to get the support of ordinary people by giving them what they want
unconsolidated democracy
populist party in govt do the most damage due to populist ideologies, executive dominance, delegitimisation of opposition, creates problems for democratic erosion
consolidated democracy
populist party in opposition has positive net gain as they are putting issues on the agenda
host ideology
right-wing populism = nativism left-wing populism - socialism
Berman on technocracy
seeks to limit democracy to save liberalism
Berman on populism
seeks to limit liberalism to save democracy
host ideology for left wing populism
socialism
Zakaria on illiberal democracy
today the 2 strands of liberal democracy are coming apart. democracy is flourishing, liberalism is not