Populism in Philippine Politics
Understanding populism The term populism is used in politics and elections to refer to the idea that there are two groups in society that are always in conflict – the “common people” and the “elites or the rich”. Cas Mudde, author of Populism: A Very Short Introduction makes this distinction. Most often, the political leaders will always publicly […]
Singapore and Populism
A newspaper columnist who deigned to lecture government ministers for speaking over the head of common folk was, in turn, chided for appealing to populism that is anathema to the ruling People’s Action Party, as it smacks of politics of free lunches. “Ministers, please speak plainly to people” was the thrust of Han Fook Kwang’s […]
A Populist Wind is Blowing on Italy
On March 2018, during the last general election, Italy elected a populist government. With the law professor Giuseppe Conte as the head of the coalition cabinet, the far-right League (1989) led by Matteo Salvini and the post-ideological Five Star Movement (2005) led by Luigi Di Maio are running the country. The two parties competed separately […]
Populism in Pakistan: Myth and Reality
“Populist promises to reverse every tough decision are nothing but empty rhetoric, irresponsible leadership, and bad politics. They are not the solution to Ireland’s problems”, Enda Kenny, an Irish politician, had once said. His saying could be applied to Pakistan in its entirety if the word ‘Ireland’ is replaced with ‘Pakistan’, where a so-called populist […]
Populism Invading Societies: the Role of Media
Populism has been known since politics started their misuse of people; using the rhetorical abilities and content of their speeches to move flocks, assuring a full obedience of “citizens” to a single leader, a single system or a single authority. While it is some sort of a fake democracy collecting its fans, populism does have […]
Rodrigo Duterte: The ‘Moderately Successful’ Populist
On a recent visit to Israel, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s confounding ability to surprise was on full display. Visiting the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial in Israel in early September, he laid a wreath and said he could not imagine a country obeying an insane leader like Hitler: “I could not ever fathom the spectacle of […]
Nostalgia and Romanticism: Populism and the Rise of Identity Politics
Politically, the world is more dangerous and unpredictable than it was just a couple of years ago. Seemingly overnight, following Britain’s unexpected vote on June 23, 2016, to withdraw from the European Union and the election of Donald Trump as US president in November of the same year, confidence in liberal democracy is at a […]
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