Complexity and Populism

Abstract

In pluralist societies in which “the folk” has long since become a heterogeneous population, his typical target audience includes disadvantaged social strata. The populist amplifies their feelings of facing crises and threats, but simultaneously endows them with group cohesion and hope. In going about this, he does not address their rational faculties but rather their feelings, and simplifies complex problems until simplistic solutions positively leap forth. There is a historical reason why this term has decidedly negative connotations in German-speaking Europe and is used nearly synonymously with demagoguery, incitement and rabble-rousing. In most other countries, populism is indeed considered a dubious political tactic due to its extreme oversimplifications but not one that necessarily pursues morally reprehensible aims. Such simplification is legitimated by pointing out that the populist is, after all, not addressing the rationality of the elites but rather the political instincts of the uneducated masses.¹

For a discussion of this in the content of South American populist regimes, see Dorna, Alexandre. Wer ist Populist? Le Monde Diplomatique: November 14, 2003