WHAT IS POPULISM Book Review

‘What Is Populism?’ by Jan-Werner Muller
If ever there was need to stop and pause, to stop and consider how we, on both sides of the Atlantic, got into the terrible mess we now find ourselves in, that moment is now. Just two years ago the world was a very different place. Obama was US president, whilst in the UK Cameron looked unlikely to obtain an overall majority and, though not well led, the Labour Party was still a significant electoral force. However, as the band played and children slept, the ship was gliding steadily toward the iceberg.

If we should wish to name that iceberg it would surely be populism. Few words have been bandied about with such little regard to whether there exists a shared understanding of what the term means. This makes ‘What Is Populism?’ by Jan-Werner Muller[1] a timely[2] contribution to a developing debate.

As so often the case with ambiguous terminology it proves easier to designate what populism is, than what it is not, and Werner Muller carries out a pretty forensic analysis that strips away so many of the misconceptions about populism and populists.
Jan-Werner Muller

First and foremost, populism has nothing to do with popularity or enthusiasm for democracy. Populism begins by deciding who is and who is not a legitimate member of the body politic. ‘We, the people,’ means ‘we’ the real people, as opposed to ‘they,’ the elite, the immigrants, the imposters, the liberal/capitalist, – for populism exists at both ends of the spectrum, - all fraudsters, and their enablers who seek to thwart the will of the people. Pluralism can play no role in a populist world, for there can only be one will, one voice that has legitimacy and anyone opposing this will must be designated ‘an enemy of the people.’ 
The enemy of all populist politicians is ‘the elite,’ Washington, Westminster, - the overpaid politicians riding on the backs of hard working people. Civil servants and experts are derided. Only the will of the people, whether Brexit, making America great again,[3] keeping the Muslims out matters. Nor does this ‘will’ need to be a physical majority, for it is the will of the ‘real’ people, the real Americans, Poles, Hungarians, British. Clearly then the enemy of all populists, whether from the left or right, is representative democracy, politicians elected on a broad mandate to exercise their judgment and make difficult decisions. The weapons of choice for the populists are the plebiscite, opinion poll and the autocrat, - who will be tasked with implementing the ‘will of the people.’   Though as Werner Muller points out, and here is worth quoting in full: -

 ‘While populists often call for referenda such exercises are not about initiating open ended processes of democratic will formation among citizens. Populists simply wish to be confirmed in what they have already determined the will of the real people to be. Populism is not a path to more participation in politics. [My emphasis].[4]


All this, looks like a recipe for permanent angry opposition, unsuited to the responsibilities of office. However, from Erdogan in Turkey, Chavez in Venezuela, Orban in Hungary and now Trump, in the most powerful country on the planet, populists have been elected into office, with dire consequences for democracy and pluralism.[5] Whilst here in the UK Brexit has represented a triumph of populist politics, the result of a populist campaign, the primary feature of which was a level of dishonesty, disinformation and duplicity.

The key question, which Werner Muller seeks to address, is how is populism to be fought? Here he seems less sure footed, offering a prescription little more than open debate and exposing populist lies. Though he does emphasise, for me, the important point that infantilising populist voters as angry and deluded individuals, suffering from a 'disease' of false consciousness,* is no way to address the issues raised by the challenges of populist politics.

This is an important book and should be recommended reading for anyone wishing to understand the politics of Trump, Farage and Marine La Pen, to name but three.  

*My terminology.


[1] ‘What Is Populism?’ by Jan-Werner Muller, all quotations are taking from the Kindle version. https://www.amazon.co.uk/What-Populism-Jan-Werner-Muller-ebook/dp/
[2] I write this on the day that article 50, announcing our decision to leave the EU, is being delivered in to Brussels, based on a campaign characterised by populist lies and disinformation.
[3] Populist campaigns are often wrapped in suitable vague slogans and promises allowing for maximum
[4] Location 1380 of the Kindle edition.
[5] On assuming office all populists attack and disarm the media, all sources of opposition, and if possible alter the constitution to entrench themselves in power. 

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