What is Populism

I certainly agree that right wing populists jump on the nationalist band wagon but wonder if left wing ones do. Is a fight for 'the people' nationalist?

I think that left wing 'populism is more often seen as 'supranationalist' as it is associated with a global socialist movement. Certainly the right wing media seem to associate socialism with being unpatriotic. As if wanting better wages and working conditions for your fellow countrymen (countrypeople? ) was part of an international plot to destroy capitalism and national identity.

Thank you for posting that YouTube link, GracesGran. I hadn't seen it before. Matthew Goodwin was the co-author of the book I mentioned before. His talk (2014, so the same time as the book) summarises the book quite neatly. The book contains further details, such as research methodology, sources and full data tables.

Goodwin is an academic political scientist, not a politician. This is an interpretation of the data and does not include value judgements. He uses the term 'left behind' as a shorthand for certain demographic groups. Before 2014 it was thought that UKIP supporters were mainly Europhobic Tories, but his work showed otherwise. This was quite ground breaking in 2014, because politicians hadn't accepted how much support was coming from former Labour voters.

Analysis of the 2015 election results and, even more strikingly, the referendum result shows how right Goodwin was. UKIP seems to be having its own problems now, but some people, such as Arron Banks, understand the implications of Goodwin's work. Hence the talk about parking UKIP's tanks in Labour strongholds and Nuttall's attempts to appeal to what Goodwin describes as the 'left behind' groups. What we're seeing is an attempt to inflame populist feeling. Whether or not UKIP has the organisation and discipline to become a serious political party remains to be seen. The other political parties ignored 'popular' discontent and are paying the price - well, Labour is - the FPTP voting system will probably keep the Conservatives in power, despite their unpopularity.

PS. I'd like to comment on many other posts, but I'm a bit short of time and don't want to flood the thread with my thoughts anyway.

PPS. I recommend watching the video, although populism is, of course, not confined to the UK nor is it entirely right-wing.

I agree with your last comment, MaizieD. I've started to look at South American politics. I hadn't known much about it before, but populism is alive and kicking - and it would appear that it's mainly coming from the left, although (sadly) usually seems to end up in failure or some kind of dictatorship.

Maybe I should dig out a copy of the 'Don't Cry for me, Argentina' DVD. I didn't understand the politics behind Peron when I saw it years ago.

That helps me make more sense of it MaizieD thank you.

Amazing what we can achieve when we put our heads together!!!!!

In this ten minute talk by Howard Jacobsen he chooses "the people" as his word of 2016. This throws some light on populism

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b085bg5w#play

Akthough it's actually two words...

Thanks, varian. Very powerful, and only one word.
People should listen to it.

"The people's vote freed Barabas, leaving Jesus to be crucified."

* varian* just finished listening -good wasn't it!

Be interesting to note how Farage and Trump use the populist language when they are on the media, and how they manipulate it to appeal to the " people"

Yes dj thought that was striking too.

Yes. A very good Point of View. There should be a second referendum. It was far too small a margin to take such a momentous decision on. People have had time to think about now. Give them a second chance.

Nothing wrong with populism, in my opinion, so long as the population have taken time to be well informed about it. With this, more time is needed. And more thought.

It's not going to happen though. Fools.

Imagine a broken up Europe. Shudder at what could happen again. Derek Jacobsen has, I guess, got more reason than some of us to be alarmed.

Oh no, not another one! What if that one doesn't work - do we have to keep on going until we get the 'right' result?

A SECOND ONE WOULD'NT HURT. iT WOULDN'T TAKE AWAY ANYTHING FROM DEMOCRACY. wE WOULD JUST BE BEING COMPLETELY SURE. iT MAKES SENSE. ThaT WAS not meant to be shouted. It's this soddi ng new keyboard. Get fed up with retyping.

I disagree, bellsisabelle. It would make a mockery of democracy to have another referendum 'just to be sure'...

But it would still be democracy. The same people would be voting. A lot of people who voted to leave did so as a protest vote. Then were stunned when the result came through.

Daphnedil

daphnedill Sat 07-Jan-17 00:15:29

@POGS It would appear that the word 'populism' was first used in 1892 to describe the same phenomenon as it does now. Therefore, it's not some faddy word invented by living people. It's been used in history books for decades.

Are you talking at me? Are you talking to me? I don't understand why you have mentioned my name in connection with 1892 or an assumption I or anybody else believes it is a 'fuddy duddy word invented by living people'.

Can you explain please.

Wow ...

When you are talking about populism you couldn't do better than thoughts on "the people". What a breath of fresh air.

"Then something more important then the will of the British people is at stake and that is, not to look further afield, the safety of the British people. It is good to say it anyway."

From time immemorial people have given a little of their free will in order to come under the protection of the bigger, stronger person or body. We have always understood the bargain we make in voting people into a level of power which allows them to make some of our choices and gives them the wherewithal to protect us. Cameron, in an attempt to deal with what he must have know was populism reneged on this bargain and abdicated his responsibility.

Thank you varian.

known not know

Nothing wrong with populism, in my opinion, so long as the population have taken time to be well informed about it. With this, more time is needed. And more thought

!!
I think people had a year or more?
Have you tried getting other people to do what you want? Or your children, friends, relatives etc?
Or to take more time to think?

whitewave. Sorry not to have come back sooner. The thread has moved on now but
Yes of course they will fail if the voter feels that the traditional politician has more to say, which in my argument will always ultimately be the case because populism has no answer to the majority of the social, economic and political questions of the day
I have been pondering this. I cant decide if that is wrong or not. I think it might be. Guess we will all have to wait and see what Trump actually delivers.
I think a lot of Americans are pinning their hopes on him too.
I think he is particular is or was popular over there, because he brought an economic message. They have seen him on The Apprentice and seen what he appears to deliver to people around him.
Then some people look around at their lives, and think they would like a piece of what he has.

Have people watched the American Apprentice? I have only seen one series. It was rather glitzy.

Anyone know if there has been a so called "populist" leader in the UK or America before?

How about Cromwell Ankers. As always though populists never carry "all" the people so it can easily become bloody.