Power to the People Pt 1

If there is one political movement that would take the prize for being hard to define, it would be populism. A general definition of a populist is a person or a political party that claims to represent the will of the common people. They claim to want what is best for the people, based on what the people want. 

What is interesting about populism is that it cannot be described as a movement that is on the left or right of the political divide. From the radical socialist Hugo Chavez in Venezuela to the far-right nationalist Marine Le Pen in France, what populists have in common is how they address the masses. Populists tend to paint a pessimistic picture of the current political situation. They claim that mainstream politicians and political parties only benefit the wealthy and powerful and act in a way that is not in the interest of the common people. 

According to Benjamin Moffitt, postdoctoral research fellow in political science at Uppsala University, there are three main characteristics of populist politicians. First of all, they appeal to the working classes by championing their opinions and views and by disapproving of political elites. They aim to convince working class people by claiming to share their fears, concerns, and dreams of a better world. Second, populists often declare a crisis in the existing system to persuade people of the need to rise up in protest. Finally, they use provocative language to shock groups in power and make people believe that they offer a real alternative to the status quo. Populists promise to lead in a way that is unlike those that are currently in power. They appear to offer fresh leadership that promises to truly represent the people