logic of populism case of ukraine dr. mykhailo minakov, docent at university of kyiv- mohyla academy...
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Logic of PopulismCase of Ukraine
Dr. Mykhailo Minakov, Docent at University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy and Lecturer at Ukrainian School for Political Studies
Lecture at HUSI summer lecture series, Harvard University
July 20, 2009
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populism : today’s topic
we will NOT speak about populism as:
“narodnichestvo” in Russia, XIX century
name of a political movement in contemporary USA
we WILL SPEAK about populism in politics that usually does not name itself ‘populism’
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structure of this presentation
definitions of populism
logic and types of populism
impact of populism on emerging democracies: Ukraine’s case
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populism : invention
in 1969 Ernest Gellner and Ghita Ionescu opened their edited collection on populism by words :
‘A Spectre is haunting the world − populism’
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populism : definitions in political science & philosophy
a deviation of democracy in the standard path from traditional to modern society in some countries of the
developing world (e.g. Germani 1969)
alternative road to modernize traditional societies (e.g. Lash 1995)
a radical alternative to politics and a construction of ‘the people’ as a political force (e.g. Laclau 2005a; 2005b)
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populism : definitions in political science & philosophy
‘an ideology which pits a virtuous and homogeneous people against a set of elites and dangerous ‘others’ who are together depicted as depriving (or attempting to deprive) the sovereign
people of their rights, values, prosperity, identity and voice’ (Albertazzi & McDonnell 2008:3)
‘populist mobilization that follows democracy like a shadow’ (Canovan 1999: 7)
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populism : way of thinking
pretend to solve difficult problems by simple remedies
promise to defend the common people against entrenched elite
provoke distrust to representative democracy
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philosophy on populism
Slavoj Zizek
“the demise of political reason,… outburst of blind utopian passions”
a global antagonistic struggle between "us" (people) and "them"
Ernesto Laclau
the conceptual opposition between populism and politics
in populism, the enemy is externalized/reified into a positive
ontological entity
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populism : style & logic
• use simplistic argumentation
• propose final solutions
• aim at irrational consensus
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simplistic argumentation
refer to biases and “common knowledge” : share the bias
establish personal contact with voter : use emotions
do not request judgments : be identified as one of them
do not refer to difficult choices: “yes” or “no” logic
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final solutions
address the need : reinforce dissatisfaction
speak of noble aim : don’t mention tools
promise final solution : ignore reality
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irrational consensus
base agreement on shared beliefs, biases and prejudices
form the expectation, then promise to fulfill it
rely on political technologies and mass media
build consensus within majority, separate those opposed
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populism : everything's personal
an organic matchleader
requires personal trust and loyalty
declares to take responsibility
calls against politics
is a show-person
citizen
trusts person, not institution
eager to get rid of responsibility
hates the politics
is a show-fan
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populism : conditions
crisis of the structures of political intermediation and communication
personalization of political power: person vs content of politics
increasing role of the media in political life
(Meny & Surel 2000: 23-33)
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populism : undermine ‘democratic political culture’
denial of achievements of “the rational politics”:
individual rights
minority rights
pluralism-based politics
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populism : undermine ‘democratic political culture’
substitution of institutionalized politics with ‘identitarian’ democracy: – identity logic: if you identify yourself with X group, and X
leader is believed to be a representative of the X group’ interests, than it is inevitable for you to support X leader
– X leader proposes solutions to problems that are directly connected with interests of the well-identified group ; these solutions need no applicability to the issue, the should respond to the identity
– X leaders have charisma based on responsiveness of the group
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populism : role of media
media support to populists:one-way communication with audience
making politics A Show
substitution traditional political modes of communication with more aggressive, targeted and manipulating
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populism : role of media
media as limiting factor for populism:
media not only help populists become influential, but it can kill them in a moment
‘populist’ media involve citizens into political life and in a long run diminish influence of populists
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populism : also non-political strata
• pastoral
• economic
• cultural, etc.
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pastoral populism
utopian visions of good old times in the countryside
paternalistic trends and neotraditionalism
rural racism / nationalism
“war of cities and villages”
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economic populism
local market for local producers
budget should be spent on those who pay taxes
income should go to those who work
“war of poor and rich”
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cultural populism
narcissism of small differences
what makes US different is substantial
OUR cultural peculiarities have “ontological” value
“war of cultures”
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populism : ontological oppositions
US
locals
working people
trustworthy
majority
loyal
THEM
newcomers
idlers
dangerous
minority
traitors
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danger of populism
ruins trust in democratic institutions
provokes civil conflict
ruins political rationalism, tempts with simple solutions to difficult problems
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most successful populists (in Council of Europe countries)
• Silvio Berlusconi, Italy
• the Kachinski brothers, Poland
• Vladimir Zhyrinovsky, Russia
• Jörg Haider, Austria
• Jean-Marie Le Pen, France
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populism in Ukraine : regional phenomenon
in Eastern Europe it is a mobilization of the people around the idea of ‘national emancipation and collective autonomy’
and an open call for the participation of the people in poorly institutionalized politics
(Blokker 2005: 384)
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populism in Ukraine : conditions
new democracy in the East
systemic antagonism of Parliament and President
influence of Soviet Legacy in the new era
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populism in Ukraine : realpolitik
populists are a core of establishment : usual political tactic
being a new democracy, populism is especially dangerous for citizens’ trust in democratic institutions
in Ukraine
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populism in Ukraine
supports myth of ontologically different East and West
ruins roots of ideology within existing parties
growing civic distrust of any political plans and programs
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examples : personalized power
President Yushchenko:
requested unquestioned trust from Our Ukraine members to appoint the Movement Supreme Council (2006)
reason: exclusive knowledge of people’s need
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examples : personalized power
usual approach to analysis of politics:
Ukrainian politics as relations between mail leaders
political programs as political technologies, leader’s statements as real politics
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examples : media politics
main political statements are being done at political talk shows
candidate Yatseniuk preferred role of talk show moderator at his campaign: more publicity, less responsibility
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examples : critique of dem. institutes
President Yushchenko:
main reason of problems in country’s development is too strong Parliament and Cabinet of Ministers (2006-09)
Prime-Minister Yanukovych:
opposition is an obstacle for effective work of Verkhovna Rada (2007)
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examples : use of identities
candidate Yanukovych:
stress on Eastern Ukrainian identity: working class, urban culture, respect to Soviet legacy, disrespect to the ‘orange’ revolution
candidate Tyagnybok:
stress on ethnic identify: ethnic purity, small city/village culture as fundamental, xenophobia
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examples : in quest for power
Party of Regions
promotes increase of minimal salary level as main issue for political agenda in time of economic crisis
gets biggest support around Ukraine on the eve of presidential elections
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examples : in quest for power
candidate Yarseniuk:
promotes candidate without clear political program and definite statements
gets high support as a candidate who does not contradict voters’ expectations so far
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examples : preserving power
Block of Yuliia Tymoshenko
condemned public officials in being ineffective implementers of CabMin decisions: salaries were decreased 25% (2008)
public dissatisfaction channeled on public service
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populism : conclusions
populism is
a cumulative descriptive notion that refers to a toolkit of a politician who seeks or preserves power through direct –
non-institutionalized – support of voting citizens
a self-promoting deficit of trust to democratic political institutes and misuse of democratic procedures, an abuse of
trust to leaders
a deficit of political responsibility
a corruption of democracies
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populism : conclusions
populism is a reminder to us that modern democracy is still just one of phases in
evolution of political sphere and its rationality is very fragile
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cited books and literature for further reading
Albertazzi, Daniele and McDonnell, Duncan (eds) (2008), Twenty-First Century Populism: The Spectre of Western European Democracy. New York: Palgrave MacMillan.
Arditi, Benjamin (2007), Politics on the Edges of Liberalism: Difference, Populism, Revolution, Agitation. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.
Blokker, Paul (2005), ‘Populist nationalism, anti-Europeanism, postnationalism, and the East-West distinction’, German Law Journal, 6 (2), 371–89.
Canovan, Margaret (1999), Trust the People! Populism and the Two Faces of Democracy. Political Studies XLVII, 2-16.
Gellner, Ernest and Ionescu, Gita (eds) (1969) Populism. Its Meanings and National Characteristics, London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson.
Hall, Gary, and Birchall, Clare (eds) (2006), New Cultural Studies: Adventures in Theory. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.
Kazin, Michael (1995), The Populist Persuasion, Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press.
Keren, Michael (1995), Professionals against Populism : The Peres Government and Democracy. New York: State University of New York Press.
Laclau, Ernesto (2005a) ‘Populism: what’s in a name?’, in: Francisco Panizza (ed.), Populism and the Mirror of Democracy, London: Verso, pp. 32–49.
Laclau, Ernesto (2005b), On Populist Reason. New York & London: Verso.
Laclau, Ernesto (2007), Emancipation(s). New York & London: Verso.
Lasch, Christopher (1995), The Revolt of the Elites and the Betrayal of Democracy, London and New York: W. W. Norton and Co.
Marchart, Oliver (2007), Post-Foundational Political Thought: Political Difference in Nancy, Lefort, Badiou and Laclau . Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.
Mazzoleni, Gianpietro, Julianne Stewart, Bruce Horsfield (2003), Media and Neo-populism: A Contemporary Comparative Analysis. London & Westport: Praeger.
Meny, Yves and Surel, Yves (eds) (2002), Democracies and the populist challenge. New York: Palgrave.
Wiles, Peter (1969), ‘A syndrome, not a doctrine: some elementary theses on populism’, in: Ionescu, Gita and Gellner, Ernest (eds), Populism. Its Meanings and National Characteristics, London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson, pp. 180–96.