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