Populism

Populism

Raphael Cohen-Almagor

Populism is the quality of appealing to or being aimed at ordinary people, striving to appeal to ordinary people who feel that their concerns are disregarded by established elite groups. Populist leaders can often be distinguished members of the elite themselves, but they promote themselves as people who are anti-establishment, who bring something different to the capital of their country.

Boris Johnson has been a populist leader. A person who has likeable personal attributes, with some charisma, ability to identify populist trends and to ride on them for self-serving purposes. Lots of bells and whistles, with little substance. I, for one, was never taken by his so-called charm and charisma. A leader is judged by his words AND deeds, by the personal example he sets, by responsibility, accountability and vision for the future of his people, not his own future. I was surprised to have conversations with people I appreciate who admired his “magical” capabilities to move things forward. I did not understand what they saw in Johnson that I failed to see.

In 2012, I was impressed by Johnson’s leadership is delivering what I considered to be a very successful Olympic games in London. Johnson was Mayor of London at that time, and he took credit for initiating, and delivering, a master organisation plan that included thousands of volunteers in pink shirts who were the engine behind the Olympics. This was impressive. But Johnson’s ambitions did not stop there. He wanted to be prime minister.

Johnson recognised that many people in Britain still retain the island mentality. Europe is a place to visit, to enjoy a vacation, but it is not part and parcel of their identity. Their identity is British rather than European. Johnson mapped the possibilities and when Cameron fell into the referendum trap, Johnson went in as a Brxit champion. Cameron’s resignation left a lacuna that Johnson hurried to fill with his populist slogans which, like his hair, were full of air, messy, unplanned, unorganised yet attractive, special and carrying his own signature brand. Johnson appealed directly to the mases in a language they understand and became the face of the Conservative Party. The Party was happy to back him as long as he could win elections. But once the appeal was eroded, and then gone, Johnson became a liability. The Conservative Party has a long history of showing its leaders the exit door when they become a liability.

Brexit is a tragic mistake that will agonise and hunt Britan for many years to come. Johnson is the main instigator of this flawed decision. I was utterly flabbergasted and disappointed by Johnson’s callous handling of the COVID crisis, motivated by populist, partisan party interests. Many thousands of people lost their lives unnecessarily as a result of Johnson’s heartless and flippant policies. Watching Johnson’s manoeuvres made me lose any shred of trust that I had for this man. Populism showed me just how dangerous it can be in the hands of irresponsible people.

Populist people grow to believe their own lies. Lies become a way of life. These leaders, I assume, are first amazed by the success of their trickery and then become hostage to trickery to the extent that they believe that they can get away with anything. There is one law for the masses, and another for them. Johnson’s has been irresponsible not only in politics but also in his personal life. And when people realise that his mouth and conduct are different, the charm is no longer enchanting. During COVID 2020-2021, people in Britain were unable to bid farewell to their loved ones due to justified lockdown while, at the same time, Johnson was partying in London. Is this a model to follow? Is this “leadership”?

Johnson left many marks on British politics, economy and society. I believe history will judge him harshly as one of the worse leaders in British history. I hope the Conservative Party will move to a different, more responsible, and less populist direction. The Party has produced great leaders in the past. I hope it can produce such a leader for Britain’s future.

Raphael Cohen-Almagor is a political science professor at the University of Hull, UK. He is now a Public Policy Scholar Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, Washington DC.