Populism: does it really care for the people?
THE first 100 days of the Trump administration, marked by controversy and unpredictability, have thrown into prominence the term “populism” to describe what many opponents view as his moves away from a commitment to human rights.
This immediately appears to be a contradiction, as populism as a political position is defined as “support for the concerns of ordinary people”.
Populism premises that the common people are exploited by a privileged elite and seeks to resolve this, resulting, across the Western world, in a cry to return decision-making power to the “common” people, who believe they are being stripped of their freedom by elitist forces such as established career politicians, bankers, lawyers and academics, globalisation, the media and other increasingly powerful groupings.
These are undoubtedly real concerns about the growing economic divide between rich and poor, a sense of powerlessness in the face of unequal opportunities, loss of employment due to increasing automation or rising numbers of immigrants, calls for austerity which exclude the affluent – generally being overwhelmed by the loss of identity submerged by expanding urban sprawl.
What alarms great numbers of principled citizens in the UK, US, the Netherlands, France, South Africa and other societies with populist parties either in government or as vocal oppositions, is the seemingly inevitable tendency of populist politicians to manipulate these real fears into forging divisions between “the people” and “the elite”, creating and perpetuating a crisis situation, which mobilises constant suspicion against the “Other”. A kind of “chosen majority” is led to believe that it constitutes the “real people” whose rights are of greater importance than those of the controlling, corrupt elite – reminiscent of the Orwellian phrase: “All are equal, but some are more equal than others.”
These politicians set up scapegoats to blame for the ills which fetter the aspirations of “the people”, demonising various groups such as immigrants, the Roma, academics, scientists and environmentalists, religious groupings like Muslims, Jews, Catholics. If we control, expel or eliminate these, we will build a united society – a “great” society, free of intervention by forces perceived as hostile.
The irony of these narratives of blame, hate and paranoia is that they negate the fundamental, hard-won democratic human rights of freedom of speech, freedom of movement and assembly, freedom to practise one’s religion – a divide-and-rule strategy which is inimical to all democratic principles.
Populist politicians soon reveal their autocratic obsessions and will-to-power. They manipulate those experiencing disillusionment, who are so desperate for some improvement in their lives that they are willing to dismiss obvious evidence of corruption as unimportant, and to vote for those who guarantee any change that might kick the present establishment.
The fatuous twitterings and slogans of a Donald Trump present no considered policy; rather masking the real issues, and opportunistically modifying his promises, offering quick, superficial solutions to common insecurities, in order to meet whatever he believes will advance his popularity polls – keeping him ahead of Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Amnesty International Report 2016/17 elucidates this situation: “Today’s politics of demonisation shamelessly peddles a dangerous idea that some people are less human than others, stripping away the humanity of entire groups of people.”
The paradox in this recent populist manifestation is that yet another elitist oligarchy of demagogues is allowed to undermine the very tenets of democracy they profess to defend: claiming commitment to the voice of the disaffected and powerless, but in fact alienating numerous groups; and employing their vast financial power to further their own prestige and fiefdoms.
Such politicians are unlikely to achieve a more equitable redistribution of wealth and power, and easier access to the benefits of a stable social system.
The contempt expressed toward the values of education, responsible experience gained in professional careers and the rights of minorities encourages an intolerant society derisive of the opinions and beliefs of those who differ from their own – a situation incapable of building a more secure, peaceable society.
Foreign policy, too, is characterised by inward-looking belligerent protectionism, resulting in increased militarism – turning potential allies into foes.
Rather than the fraudulent promises of populism, what is needed is a more deliberate and concerted democracy, emphasising the defence of human rights and the rule of law, protecting not merely the majority, but all minorities, and a robust tackling of corruption. This requires the conscious development of a stronger civil society, a more accountable citizenry, educated to recognise the serious responsibilities of exercising their democratic privilege to vote, so less likely to fall for the machinations of fake politicians, offering sham currency.
Reference: New Internationalist: April 2017