By John Shayegh
Populism is booming. The first US Republican primary is only weeks away and former president Donald Trump, who is a master of populist techniques, commands substantial support. Meanwhile one in three Europeans are now voting for populist parties.
My colleagues and I carried out research of politicians and news media in the US, UK, and Australia that revealed a significant populist strategy to present “elites” – such as opposition politicians, lawyers and civil servants – as setting out to misinform and manipulate the public.
At the heart of liberal democracy lies the principle of pluralism, that there are diverse views on how society should work and that numerous institutions operate independently to balance competing interests. For this principle to work, it’s important that the public trust that these diverse voices act in good faith.
Who are ‘elites’?
However, populists seek to chip away at this by accusing a wide variety of organisations as either being run by “elites”, or working as agents of elite interests.
The specifics may vary depending on the national context, such as who exactly “the elites” are and why they supposedly collude. But the overall function remains the same: to discredit democratic institutions or the media.
This is because when people see institutions such as the judiciary, the media and universities as connected to them and working for the good of the public, the more likely they are to listen to or trust them.
This might sound familiar as prominent populist, Donald Trump, has regularly spoken of “witch hunts” and “the deep state”, making these central to his efforts to deflect accountability for his past actions as he heads for the 2024 Republican nomination for US president.
But this is not a new strategy for him. In his 2016 presidential bid, Trump often spoke of “special interests in control” who “rigged the political and economic system” and criticized various organisations of secretly working to undermine him.
In our research, my colleagues and I argued that this technique is so widespread because its psychological functions are to again erode social trust in democratic institutions. It’s also important to note that the idea of “elite collusion” storylines and terminology are not easily addressed by using fact-based responses because they are not centered on what the information is, but rather, on who conveys the information.
Populists often present themselves as someone who truly works in the public interest, and fighting for the rights of the outsider or “normal working people”. For politicians, this can help propel them to power. It can also help cultivate an idea of shared experiences, such as when Trump recently claimed both he and the public suffered from the elites working against them.
However, buying into this populist way of thinking limits the range of information sources or media outlets that people can engage with or trust. Regardless of how convincing arguments may be or how robust their evidence may seem these “others” are then to be seen as enemies.
It’s important, of course, not to have blind trust in every claim made by established democratic institutions. They can get things wrong, they can be biased, or cause significant harm.
Yet, voters should be equally wary of falling into a state of blind mistrust, where they reject anything a group or organisation says because they are labelled “the elite”.
But it is exactly this kind of generalized, extreme skepticism that populists such as Trump and another Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy try to cultivate.
Dismantling democratic checks
There is a further danger in adopting this worldview because this idea of “colluding” with elites, whether they are opposition politicians, academics, writers or civil servants, is a key part of how populists justify dismantling democratic checks and balances.
A case in point is Hungary’s prime minister, Viktor Orbán. His party’s electoral rhetoric repeatedly lambasted national institutions such as universities and the state broadcaster as mouthpieces of powerful elites. Then, when they came to power, they worked to take direct control of these institutions.
As the US approaches the Republican primary season, and the long run towards the November election, this should serve as a significant warning.
Investigative journalists have exposed Trumpite proposals to remove democratic checks and balances and eliminate independent institutions through partisan appointments should he win in 2024. However, it is crucial to also see that, in an echo of Orbán, use of anti-elite talking points are a central part of populist candidates’ justification for taking control.
Not everyone who votes for populist parties harbors anti-democratic or anti-liberal sentiments. They can be critical citizens who value democracy. However, such individuals may be unaware that, despite populism’s self-proclaimed role as the champion of “the will of the people”, it subtly undermines fundamental pillars of liberal democracies.
So, there is an opportunity to reach out to those who may be sympathetic to populist politics but could reject it if they grasped the full implications of, for instance, Trump’s relentless attempts to undermine the US legal system before the 2024 election. To educate people about the impact of populist agendas could empower them to dismiss or question populist language.
Recent studies have demonstrated that educating people about the manipulative tactics employed by politicians and those with a political objective, whether it’s climate change pseudoscience or fake news, significantly reduces their effectiveness.
As the US gears up for the 2024 election, it’s crucial for people to understand how populists cultivate blind mistrust of independent institutions. By fostering this understanding, there’s an opportunity to appeal to voters who lean towards populist politics. Getting them to recognize the potential dangers to liberal democracy could encourage choices at the ballot box that aim to safeguard democratic values.
John Shayegh is a Postdoctoral Researcher in the School of Psychology at Queen’s University Belfast.
Ray W. says
I have often written of Alexander Hamilton’s great question, posed in the first paragraph of Federalist Paper No. 1, through which he expressed his hope and belief that the American colonists had reached a unique station in the historyy of the world; he argued that his countrymen just might be the first to establish a constitutional form of government based on reason and choice, as opposed to every prior form of government that had been based on accident (of birth) or force (tyranny).
And, I have often written of James Madison’s final paragraph of Federalist Paper No. 34, through which he conveyed his great fear for the fledgling democracy of the existence of “pestilential” partisan members of faction, which he deemed to be the greatest threat to his liberal democratic Constitutional republic.
But I have never written of Alexander Hamilton’s final paragraph of the final Federalist Paper: No. 85.
Hamilton wrote:
“The zeal for attempts to amend, prior to the establishment of the Constitution, must abate in every man who is ready to accede to the truth of the following observation of a writer (Hume) equally solid and ingenious: ‘To balance a large state or society [says he], whether monarchical or republican, on general laws, is a work of so great difficulty, that no human genius, however comprehensive, is able, by the mere dint of reason and reflection, to effect it. The judgments of many must unite in the work; experience must guide their labor; time must bring it to perfection, and the feeling of inconveniences must correct the mistakes which they inevitably fall into in their first trials and experiments. These judicious reflections contain a lesson of moderation to all the sincere lovers of the Union, and ought to put them upon their guard against hazarding anarchy, civil war, a perpetual alienation of the States from each other, and perhaps the military despotism of a victorious demagogue, in the pursuit of what they are not likely to obtain, but from time and experience. It may be in me a defect of political fortitude, but I acknowledge that I cannot entertain an equal tranquillity with those who affect to treat the dangers of a longer continuance in our present situation as imaginary. A nation without a national government, is, in my view, an awful spectacle. The establishment of a Constitution, in time of profound peace, by the voluntary consent of a whole people, is a prodigy, to the completion of which I look forward with trembling anxiety. I can reconcile it to no rules of prudence to let go the hold we now have, in so arduous an enterprise, upon seven out of the thirteen States, and after having passed over so considerable a part of the ground, to recommence the course. I dread the more the consequences of new attempts, because I know that powerful individuals, in this and other States, are enemies to a general national government in every possible shape.”
I will repeatedly offer to FlaglerLive readers the observation that some 235 years ago, our founding fathers understood that the greatest threat to our fledgling national government would come from populists, then and now. They hoped their experimental liberal democratic Constitutional republic would foster men (and women) of virtue, but they understood that demagogues existed amongst themselves, and that those demagogues amongst themselves would use every power available to them to destroy the great Constitutional experiment. Hence, the checks and balances inserted into the proposed Constitution for every power delegated by the people to the federal, state, county and municipal governments. They never wanted any one person to ever gain unlimited power for an indeterminate period of time. No dictator for even one day.
JimboXYZ says
The era of new Bidenisms has ruined this nation pretty much. The more the D’s blame Trump, the stronger he becomes, right now 2016-2019 looks pretty good in comparison to Biden’s run at Bidenomic-ing the masses into a new level of poverty with his brand of hyperinflation.
JW says
Good article that makes you THINK and in the end it talks about educating people to make them understand what is happening.
This is particularly an issue in Florida (and the rest of America) where high school education other than learning enough English and math so you can get a job (De Santis words) is doing way to little to make people understand civics and history or science.
So as long as we have under-educated people they are easy to be influenced by populists and unable to vote based on substance. On top of that you now have social media on your phone: so no need to read and debate. Just look how Congress operates or rather can’t get anything done.
It is also no surprise that the US, once a leading democracy in the world, is falling down to a place of 50 or 60!
FlaglerLive makes a valuable contribution to help making people think. However, many comments by readers don’t convince me that they are thinking before they are writing.
The dude says
The mango Mussolini literally implants memories into the minds of his simple-minded followers and they nod in agreement and cheer.
I saw a clip over the weekend of the orange stain bellowing at his rubes and dullards how “their lives where the bestest they had ever been just four years ago”… (paraphrased) and they roared in approval… like it was true or something. If 2019 and 2020 were the best years you’ve ever had in your whole entire life, well that’s just sad.
It’s the darndest thing I’ve ever seen… It does however go a long way in explaining how the Nazis managed to do the things that the Nazis did.
Meanwhile, back here in reality… the stock market and American oil production are at all time highs, unemployment is low, and American workers are finally making progress on getting paid what they’re worth.
protonbeamexposure says
The media is like politicians in that regard – they point plenty of fingers, make many an accusation, skew their viewpoints and beliefs on stories and yet with the same hand absolve themselves of complicity or responsibility. There is an emerging and thorough body of academic literature examining the media’s role in promoting populism and framing stories through populism – framing them to, well, sell advertising and their publications.
“By means of framing, journalists actively reconstruct 1148 Journalism 20(9)
complex societal issues, such as the crisis on the job market or the refugee crisis, into
meaningful patterns of interpretation (e.g. Scheufele, 1999). For populist attributions of
blame, these patterns of interpretation reduce societal problems into binary oppositions
of ‘the blameless us’ versus ‘the culprit them’.”
Laurel says
Civil servants as “elitists,” OMG! I was a civil servant for about 20 years, and let me tell you what my elitist power was: zeeeeerrro! I was very much aware that I worked for the citizens, and did my best to help them out. So, the guy with a pool on the beach in Palm Beach “suffered from the elites” like me.
Folks, you gotta turn away from this guy. He does not mean our country well, not at all.
Trump has called half of Americans (Democrats) “the enemy.” He has referred to a large portion of this country as “vermin.” He claims immigrants “poison our blood.” He has referred to the press (the freedom of which is in our Constitution) “fake news.” He wants to terminate the Constitution (he wrote on Truth Social). He turns to Putin rather than our own people. He uses Mein Kampf as his playbook (if you do not believe that, read it yourself). All of this, and more, are tactics used by fascist authoritarians. I’m not even getting into how he views women, or for that matter, how he views his supporters. Do not think this will somehow make your lives better!
I am asking you all, Democrats and Republicans alike, to start treating each other with respect. Stop calling each other names like “libtards,” or “repukicans,” or whatever. Stop referring to each other as “pathetic” or “stupid.” This is exactly what he, and others like him, wants. Divide and conquer. Let your Congressmen and women know that this behavior and language is unacceptable.
If “We the People…” don’t take charge of this right now, we may very well lose the very way of “Life, Liberty and Pursuit of Happiness” our country was set up to be. This is not a game, this is not a joke, it is not “locker room talk,” it is a serious takeover of our system, and the way of life we have always known and the rest of the world has envied.
Pogo says
@Populism Is Undermining Our Elections
Agreed.
Now, give apathy, ignorance, simple laziness, and actual malice and/or depraved indifference and selfishness, e.g., Trump, DeSantis, et al., their due too.
We could do so much better:
https://fairvote.org/
Related
As stated
https://www.google.com/search?q=voting+participation+by+country
As stated
https://www.google.com/search?q=most+honest+election+financing+by+country
Laurel says
It is hard to fathom that one man, comprise solely of pure ego, can upset and work to terminate this Constitutional experiment, yet here he is. The very Constitution that his party claimed to uphold with all their might, now this party is becoming silent on the topic. Instead of conservatism of a whole nation, instead of a democratic input of many, they are disregarding our nation and turning to one marketing, reality TV character to tear it all down.
Yes. No dictator for even one day.
Laurel says
Yes. Here are the top producers of oil in the world:
Top 10 Countries with the Highest Oil Production (barrels per day)
United States – 11,567,000
Russia – 10,503,000
Saudi Arabia – 10,225,000
Canada – 4,656,000
Iraq – 4,260,000
China – 3,969,000
United Arab Emirates – 2,954,000
Brazil – 2,852,000
Kuwait – 2,610,000
Iran – 2,546,000
Source – World Population Review (.com)
Yet Trump claims to “drill, drill, drill,” preferably in our National Parks, and off our important coasts.
Dennis C Rathsam says
I understand all U liberals hating TRUMP the person. But after 3 1/2 years of term oil, inflation, lies, interest rates….Where oh where is Bidens solution? TRUMP the president had this all under control, yeah he talks to much, buthe kept us all save! No country invaded any where during the TRUMP administration. No cocaine was found in the Whitehouse, when TRUMP lived there. Bidens open border policies have cause mayhem through out the USA. Biden has no clue who has crossed into his country, how does he expect the cities to feed & house these people? This never happened under TRUMP. Now the weakness of Biden has the Houtis controling the shipping lanes. He sits and watches as the drones & missles keep comming, trying to destroy ships of every nation. 2000 terorists control the once great USA. Biden sends Iran money, Iran sends the Houtis weapons to kill Americans & Jews. Biden does nothing. More and more investigations have turned up money,s entering Bidens accounts from China, Russia, & the Ukrane.Biden says its all lies, blames TRUMP for his sticky fingers. How many LLC,s does your family have? Does your grand kids get money from China? What service did the Bidens supply? TRUMPS kids pay the thier taxes, Hunter & Ashley Biden didnt pay thiers! How much more does expect the American people take? Thats why Bidens aproval rating is the lowest in history, Even lower than gas line Jimmy Carter! 76% of the American people think the country,s headed in the wrong direction. Wake up! We where all better off 4 years ago! Every thing families dicuss at the dinner table, makes Biden look lost, out of touch with reality!
Laurel says
Dennis: We get it, you want an authoritarian dictator, a king, and not a democratic republic with a Constitution. So, why here? There are already places like that around the world.
Most of what you wrote was completely inaccurate. Where do you get your *stats*? Do you know why interest rates are raised? To slow down the rising costs of housing. Have you been to the gas pump lately? Gas is under $3 per gallon. The U.S. is the number one producer of oil.
“The Chinese government granted a total of 41 trademarks to companies linked to Ivanka Trump by April of 2019—and the trademarks she applied for after her father became president got approved about 40% faster than those she requested before Donald Trump’s victory in the 2016 election, according to a new book by Forbes’ senior editor Dan Alexander.” – Forbes.com
The Trumps don’t pay their taxes? Sure they do. Trump paid $750.00. What he didn’t pay was construction companies. He beat out workers every chance he got, and New York residents know that.
Jared Kushner got $2,000,000,000.00 from Saudi Arabia, for an “investment” though he was not an expert on investments, but was the President’s Senior Advisor, and son in law.
There is no “open door policies.” Biden has tried to work with Republicans on the topic, but they do not want Biden to get any credit. Instead, they prefer to use the border against him.
There may have been no cocaine in the White House (how would we know?) while Trump was in, but there was an Insurrection and (literal) crap on the floor of the Capital when Trump was in.
I could go on and on, but I know Trumpers do not want to hear. BTW, we were not better off with Trump, and we will definitely be worse off should he become President for Life. God, can you imagine dumb as rocks Junior inheriting the kingship?
Sherry says
@dennis. . . cite he “credible” factual evidence and sources for your ridiculous claims or we will all continue to understand that all you can do is spout FOX/Newsmax BS. Help yourself to return to reality by switching to “factual news” on PBS/The Associated Press.
Laurel says
My dear Sherry: They never will. Instead, they vanish and show up on a different thread claiming the same trash talk brought to them by Fox, Blaze and Newsmax, which rarely rely bothers with facts.