Ideology as a Commodity. Authoritarianism in a Populist Form Cover Image

Ideologia w roli towaru. Autorytaryzm w populistycznej formie
Ideology as a Commodity. Authoritarianism in a Populist Form

Author(s): Lech Szczegóła
Subject(s): Political Philosophy, Government/Political systems, Electoral systems, Politics and Identity
Published by: Wydział Nauk Politycznych i Studiów Międzynarodowych UW
Keywords: national populism; ideology; retrotopia; electoral authoritarianism; identity politics;

Summary/Abstract: The subject of the article is the phenomenon of successes of alt-right parties and their leaders. The contemporary rise of radical populism and its geopolitical scope are reflected in the discourse of its new features. Such a discussion offers a wealth of concepts and notions. Most of them describe practices of “dismantling” democracy, threats of dictatorship or even fascism. The presented analysis focuses on the question of the ideological identity of cases that can be specified as consolidated populism. The thesis I advance shows that the source of the durability of electoral support is a specific narrative based on a thinking style which Zygmunt Bauman termed “retrotopia.” This popular world view functions as a legitimizing myth, which the process of limiting democracy hides in the form of culture war. I conclude that the concept of retrotopia as a popularistic ideology adds more to the distinction between today’s different varieties of populist movements and political leaders.

  • Issue Year: 72/2024
  • Issue No: 72
  • Page Range: 11-27
  • Page Count: 17
  • Language: Polish
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