Populism

Populism (Latin populus „people“) is, according to Duden, „a popular, often demagogic policy characterized by opportunism, which aims to win the favor of the masses (with a view to elections) by dramatizing the political situation“ (Duden 2015, 1367). Appeals are made to the people, which is reflected in the word itself (cf. Decker, 37). The term populism contains the suffix -mus, whereby an exaggeration per se is intended and is directed against the components of a democratic constitutional state (cf. Wielenga/ Hartleb 2011, 11).

Characteristics of populism

Populism derives from the will of the people and thus legitimizes its authority. It claims a truth for itself that is undemocratic as well as unscientific and cannot be substantiated by facts. As long as this truth is accepted by the individual, it is considered absolute (cf. Stegemann 2017, 64).

Characteristics of populism are listed below:

1. populism is a combination of „ideological elements, metaphors, stylistic elements as well as political practice“ (Lucardie 2011, 20). Moreover, populists have a „crude, direct, if not vulgar style and use of words“ (ibid.).
2. According to populists, the people are a homogeneous, morally virtuous community without differences of interest (cf. ibid.). Common sense, i.e. the common sense of a people, is a better yardstick for political decisions compared to the expertise of the elite (cf. ibid.). According to populists, the elite is always corrupt, malicious, deceptive and conspiratorial (cf. ibid.).
3. Populists need outgroups (mostly immigrants) to act as scapegoats and against whom they can mobilize the people without directly attacking the elite. At the same time, they accuse the elite of favoring these minorities over their own people (cf. ibid., 21).
4. According to many scholars, populists want to replace or supplement indirect, parliamentary democracy with direct or plebiscitary democracy. Moreover, populist movements are led by charismatic leader figures who claim to embody the will of the people (cf. Decker 2011, 37; cf. ibid., 21).

Literature

Decker, Frank (2011): Democratic populism and or populist democracy? Remarks on a difficult relationship. In: Wielenga, F./ Hartleb, F. (eds.): Populism in modern democracy. The Netherlands and Germany in comparison. Münster: Waxmann, 39-54.

Duden editorial office (2015): Duden – German Universal Dictionary. The comprehensive dictionary of meanings of the contemporary German language. 8th ed. Berlin: Bibliographisches Institut.

Lucardie, Paul (2011): Populism: conceptual-historical and theoretical remarks. In: Wielenga, F./ Hartleb, F. (eds.): Populism in modern democracy. The Netherlands and Germany in comparison. Münster/ New York: Waxmann, 17-38.

Stegemann, Bernd (2017): The specter of populism. An essay on political dramaturgy. Berlin: Theater der Zeit.

Wielenga, Friso/ Hartleb, Florian (2011): Introduction. In: Wielenga, F./ Hartleb, F. (eds.): Populism in modern democracy. The Netherlands and Germany in comparison. Münster/ New York: Waxmann, 7-16.