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Populism: Main Features

Populism: Main Features. Reported by Mykhailo Minakov, Regional Director for Program Development, Eurasia Foundation in Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova; Head of the Alumni Association of The Ukrainian School for Political Studies Conference “Temptation of Populism”, Sofia, March 30 – 31, 2007.

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Populism: Main Features

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  1. Populism: Main Features Reported by Mykhailo Minakov, Regional Director for Program Development, Eurasia Foundation in Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova; Head of the Alumni Association of The Ukrainian School for Political Studies Conference “Temptation of Populism”, Sofia, March 30 – 31, 2007

  2. populism : today’s topic we will NOT speak about populism as: “narodnichestvo” in Russia, XIX century name of a political movement in contemporary USA we WILL SPEAK about populism in politics that never names itself ‘populism’

  3. populism : definition pretend to solve difficult problems by simple remedies promise to defend the common people against entrenchedelite provoke distrust to representative democracy

  4. social science on populism political doctrine against “corrupt elite”, for the “common people” and “natural order” prophesy that they represent the majority of the people appeal to a specific region or to a specific social class or ethnic group citizens get more active and request fast solutions of problems populism is inevitable in current democracies: any political regime needs a supplementary "populist" dimension for legitimacy

  5. Slavoj Zizek “the demise of political reason,… outburst of blind utopian passions” a global antagonistic struggle between "us" (people) and "them." Ernesto Laclau the conceptual opposition between populism and politics in populism, the enemy is externalized/reified into a positive ontological entity philosophy on populism

  6. populism : features • use simplistic argumentation • propose final solutions • aim at irrational consensus

  7. simplistic argumentation • refer to biases and “common knowledge” : share the bias • establish personal contact with voter : use emotions • do not request judgments : be one of them • do not refer to difficult choices: “yes” or “no” logic

  8. final solutions address the need : reinforce dissatisfaction speak of noble aim : don’t mention tools promise final solution : ignore reality

  9. irrational consensus base agreement on shared beliefs, biases and prejudices form the expectation, then promise to fulfill it rely on political technologies and mass media build consensus within majority, separate those opposed

  10. leader requires personal trust and loyalty declares to take responsibility calls against politics is a show-person citizen trusts person, not institution eager to get rid of responsibility hates the politics is a show-fan populism : everything's personalan organic match

  11. populism : non-political strata • pastoral • economic • cultural, etc.

  12. pastoral populism utopian visions of good old times in the countryside paternalistic trends and neotraditionalism rural racism / nationalism “war of cities and villages”

  13. economic populism local market for local producers budget should be spent on those who pay taxes income should go to those who work “war of poor and rich”

  14. cultural populism narcissism of small differences what makes US different is substantial OUR cultural peculiarities have “ontological” value “war of cultures”

  15. US locals working people trustworthy majority loyal THEM newcomers idlers dangerous minority traitors populism : ontological oppositions

  16. ruins trust in democratic institutions provokes civil conflict ruins political rationalism, tempts with simple solutions to difficult problems danger of populism

  17. most successful populists(in CoE countries) • Silvio Berlusconi, Italy • the Kachinski brothers, Poland • Vladimir Zhyrinovsky, Russia • Jörg Haider, Austria • Jean-Marie Le Pen, France

  18. populism in Ukraine populists are a core of establishment : usual political tactic being a new democracy, populism is especially dangerous for citizens’ trust in democratic institutions in Ukraine

  19. populism in Ukraine (2) supports myth of ontologically different East and West ruins roots of ideology within a party growing civic distrust of any political plans and programs

  20. populists in Ukraine(an example) Block of Yuliia Tymoshenko “Utility prices MUST be low for people” local councils with the BYuT majority triples utility prices

  21. populists in Ukraine (2)(an example) Party of Regions “Life is going to be better right now” in less than 6 months real average income dropped down

  22. populism : solutions are there any ???

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