Populism

What is the ideational definition of populism?

Populism is a thin ideology that sees society as split into two homogeneous and antagonistic groups, “the pure people” vs “the corrupt elite,” and claims politics should express the volonté générale (general will) of the people

Core components of the ideational definition of populism

Populism as an ideology (of a certain kind); Dualism between people and elite; Each of these as one homogenous group; Politics as an expression of the general will

Measuring populism (2 different approaches)

PopuList database

POPPA expert survey

PopuList database

Comparative politics scholars initially categorize cases, then consult country experts; Qualitative approach; Output: Binary classification

POPPA expert survey

Country experts rate parties on specific dimensions; Statistical modelling; Output: Continuous scale

Explaining populism rise: 4 explanation types

Demand-side: Economic grievances + socio-cultural grievances + their interaction

Supply-side: Political institutions' performance

Voluntarist: Political actors' behavior

Other: Media landscape changes

Economic grievances for populism

Negative economic developments (egotropic/sociotropic) + future fear/insecurity + societal divisions (urban-rural)

Socio-cultural grievances for populism

Societal changes (declining traditional values + women/minorities mobilization + immigration) → counterreactions (esp. white males). Can combine w/ economic

Supply-side deficiencies for populism (5)

Political institutions lack responsiveness/effectiveness: Inequalities + Money in politics + "TINA" + Judicial/technocratic decisions + Euroskepticism + Mainstream party decline

Voluntarist explanations for populism

Political actors' choices/behavior + Issue salience strategies + Political entrepreneurship (wedge issues, de Vries & Hobolt) + Mainstream parties' reactions to challengers