Introduction
Populism is a specific kind of rhetoric or ideology that purports to represent the wants and interests of the general public in opposition to the “establishment” or elite. Typically, it presents a polarized picture of the sociopolitical scene to motivate and encourage marginalized social groups. People-centrism and anti-elitism are the primary factors that make up a minimal description of populism. This perspective draws attention to the emancipatory potential of some populist discourses in promoting social inclusion and democratic representation in opposition to repressive and increasingly unaccountable power systems. However, anti-populist stances are frequently taken as a matter of course in mainstream political, journalistic, and intellectual discourses.
Defining Populism, Its Threats, and Early Examples
MĂĽller distinguishes between “populists” and “democrats” and contends that populism and anti-pluralism are inextricably linked. Because populism threatens not only liberal democracy but democracy in general, MĂĽller opposes the idea of “illiberal democracy.” He compares populism to technocracy, but he skips over ideologies that view populism as the culmination of political action.
MĂĽller defines populism as a “thin ideology,” which prevents the development of a theoretical framework suitable for analyzing the new “leftist populisms” in Europe. Podemos’ populist tactic, which is viewed as a special situation because of its reflexivity on populism, is not examined in MĂĽller’s book. Ling claims that in their efforts to contain paranoid populism, establishment parties have swallowed it and given up on their fundamental beliefs. Silvio Berlusconi allowed neo-fascists to join his coalition in Italy, and now the country is ruled by the far-right for the first time since Benito Mussolini. A vote on Britain’s EU membership was expected to marginalize UKIP, but instead, it made moderate Tories more like UKIP.
People who think Justin Trudeau’s cabinet is full of spies have already received pandering from Pierre Poilievre. He has attacked the Bank of Canada to placate individuals with an odd fondness for the gold standard. Additionally, to win over people who believe that vaccinations are a deadly plan, he has railed against vaccine requirements. Do not anticipate a significant strategic shift now that he has been chosen because none of this was truly essential to winning the leadership contest.
According to Andrew Wylie, Pierre Poilievre is trying to win over the hardline right-wingers, but he is not one and will not act that way. Although Justin Trudeau, the prime minister, will criticize them, he may win over working-class people who reject his conspiratorial overtures. Millions of people who feel left behind present a big chance for the NDP to connect with them, but so far, it has had terrible success in doing so.
The Rise of Populist Movements and Contributing Factors
In recent years, right-wing populist groups have emerged in France, Spain, the United Kingdom, and other countries. Populist leaders have recently come to power in the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland. The POPREBEL project, supported by the EU, aims to research this issue by looking at the political, economic, social, and cultural facets of populism. The 2008 financial crisis, as well as significant changes in culture, society, and politics, were considered to be contributing causes to the development of populism. In Poland, nationalist Catholic identity significantly impacts populism; in contrast, technical populism, which is less myth-loaded and symbolically overloaded, is prevalent in Czechia.
In the West, populism has existed since at least the 19th century. The most well-known populist politicians are from the “right wing,” yet they can also be from the left. Populism, when developed, poses a threat to democratic institutions and principles. It transforms politics into a struggle for existence between “the people” and the ruling class. The apocalyptic logic of populism holds that the people (and their leader) must overthrow the dishonest elites.
This situation has antidemocratic potential since many populist politicians, once in office, exploit their majority rule to undermine institutions that check their authority. The economic principles of Poilievre’s program are standard for the Conservative Party of Canada: free trade, a small deficit, and less regulation. Like Premier Legault or former Prime Minister Stephen Harper, he refrains from occasionally and opportunistically dog-whistling about immigration.
In 2006-2007, there was a global decline in both freedom and democracy, with an increase in the rate of democratic failure. There are grave concerns about the viability of democracy as liberal democracies throughout the world, notably in Europe and the US, show symptoms of a democratic distemper or recession. The relative growth of Russia and China and the rising propensity of autocrats worldwide to look to them as role models have sparked a downward trend in the whole spectrum of regimes, including the loss or failure of democracy in liberal democracies. In the Third Wave of Democratization, democracy deteriorated in low-income nations, nations with severe racial and ethnic divisions, nations that had never experienced democracy, and nations located in undesirable areas. As a result, there was a nativist and anti-liberal backlash against trade, immigration, and the EU.
The Canadian Context: Pierre Poilievre’s Populism and Broader Democratic Trends
The rise of populism in Canada in the twenty-first century may be attributed to Pierre Poilievre’s becoming the head of the Conservative Party. He is an ardent populist, a conservative with strong intellectual convictions, and a gifted politician. His declared objectives are to restore Canadians’ ownership of their lives and make Canada the world’s most liberated nation. He would change federal rules to abolish carbon pricing and the clean fuel mandate and simplify the approval process for oil and gas projects.
He now speaks in populist terms and believes that there are only allies and enemies. He has not sought to polarize people along racial or ethnic lines, in contrast to some individuals who have come to represent populism in recent years. However, former auditor general Sheila Fraser claims his remarks against the Bank of Canada were irresponsible and troubling. It calls these institutions’ credibility into question.
Pierre Poilievre won the election to lead the Conservative party, and his disruptive politics are necessary for a nation where the established quo has left too many Canadians behind. While skyrocketing inflation is undermining the purchasing power of typical Canadians with salary-based earnings, rising prices have shut out young and new Canadians from the property market.
Although some people think populism is necessarily destructive, it may also be beneficial. Pierre Poilievre’s populism is a type of economic populism that emphasizes economic injustice rather than fueling racial animosity. He has worked to guarantee that immigrants may work in their desired professions and purchase homes since he is aware of the harm that elitism causes to Canadians of all races and creeds.
Conclusion
Poilievre’s post-election victory speech was encouraging since it showed a more conciliatory leadership style. He shied away from some of his divisive language and spoke on economic concerns like house construction, affordability, igniting the energy sector, and bringing taxation under control. His success in a general election is likely because he has already made his rivals rethink their complacency on essential issues. Although his populism has specific hazards, they are substantially less severe than his detractors think.
References
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Jan-Werner MĂĽller. What is populism? Penguin, 2017. Web.
Ling, J. (2022). Toying with paranoid populism has consumed other parties whole. Now, Pierre Poilievre will give it a try. The Globe and Mail. Web.
Populist rebellion against modernity in 21st-century Eastern Europe: neo-traditionalism and neo-feudalism. (2021). Cordis. Web.
SaltWire Network. (2022). YVON GRENIER: Poilievre a classic populist, but he’s no racist. Saltwire. Web.
When does populism become a threat to democracy? (2017). Stanford University. Web.
Wherry, A. (2022). Pierre Poilievre is a 21st-century populist who thinks his moment has arrived. CBC. Web.
Zivo, A. (2022). Adam Zivo: The timing was right for Pierre Poilievre’s populism. National Post. Web.