Populism

deutsch

Populism

A popular term, as for instance in "left-wing populism" or "right-wing populism".

Those who use this term - usually as an invective - usually don't bother to say what exactly they mean by it.

Let us therefore propose a definition:

The populist way of gaining political power: pretending to shape or reform economic and social policy for the good and benefit of the "little people", directing the anger of the "little people" towards the very weak (or simply some "others") (exploiting herd instincts inherited from our animal ancestors), but more or less covertly playing the game of the now proverbial 1%.

Based on this definition, there is only "right-wing populism", and the worst (because most dishonourable) right-wing populists are those who still disguise themselves as "social democrats" but have long since transformed themselves into "neoliberals". (However, they do not yet go so far as to sytematically pull scapegoats out of their hats, so to speak).

According to this definition, attaching the label "populist" to "left-wingers" who truly live up to the predicate "left", is simply wrong.

The label "left", as it were, refers to nothing other than unequivocally making SocialJjustice, Solidarity, Peace and Quality of Life for all, as well as maintaining a large and strong Commons, the guiding principle and goal of politics. It is not the very weak but the very strong who stand in the way of this.

There is no need for the "classical" terminology of class antagonisms, class struggle and the like (terms that some people turn up their noses at today) to understand that this "left" means nothing other than striving for a reasonable constitution of our community: a constitution that ensures in particular that the ownership of the means of production neither leads to an inappropriate appropriation of labour nor to a devaluation of the skills of those who create these means of production, the necessary infrastructures and thus our common wealth.

NB: Of course, proposing a definition does not exclude other definitions (including those that do not ascribe negative characteristics). But anyone using the term "populism" as an invective should at least specify which definition they have in mind.

Hans-Georg Stork, 12/2016