Thread by @docrussjackson

#THREAD

'Dealing with modern illiberal democracies: From vintage electoral autocracy to today’s jumble of populism with nativism'.

"Democratic illiberalism is no other than populism... it bespeaks a conception of democracy that is openly hostile to liberal principles" - Pappas.

Liberal politicians accept that the diversity of modern society – ideological or otherwise – should be protected through the rule of law. Illiberal politicians claim society is divided between 'ordinary people' & an 'establishment', a division they play up for electoral reasons.

Populists make the bullshit claim that only they truly represent the (will of the) people, & that their political competitors are all part of an immoral & corrupt elite. Whoever does not support the populist agenda therefore does not belong to the real people to begin with.

Since illiberal-populist politicians claim to exclusively represent the people, they often “dismiss minorities & disregard institutional legality, while favouring majoritarianism”. Such illiberal instincts reside within all Europe’s populist movements.

Pappas claims populist democratic illiberalism is frequently confused with nativism, a quite distinct political phenomenon. Unlike populism, which can be found on the left & right, nativism is more closely aligned to the right-wing conservative “law & order” agenda.

Nativism also embraces “welfare chauvinism”, in which a classically left wing agenda – generous social security benefits – is tied to a nativist theme by severely restricting access to these on the basis of (ethnic) nationality.

Although both offer their particular challenges to liberal democracy, nativist politicians are generally more committed to parliamentary democracy & constitutional legality than their populist counterparts.

Because of this Pappas is more concerned about the “contagious quality” of populism than about the rhetoric of nativism. Populism attacks the legitimacy of the institutions from which democracy operates & tempts other political parties to adopt populist positions of their own.