Populism is a foundational element of democracy, manipulated by demagogues, argues Oscar Whittle 4/6
Summary
TLDRThe speaker challenges the notion that populism is inherently a threat to democracy, arguing instead that it is a fundamental aspect of democratic processes. They contend that populism, at its core, is about ensuring the people have a voice in their government. The speaker calls for embracing populism to reclaim it from demagogues and to restore democracy, urging a fight against the dangers of unchecked populism with the same populist tactics, advocating for a system that works for all.
Takeaways
- 🗣️ The speaker begins by acknowledging the importance of populism and the need to address its negative connotations.
- 🤔 The speaker admits a personal bias against populism, influenced by historical figures and political commentators.
- 🌐 Populism is described as not inherently evil but rather a force that has been co-opted by demagogues for negative ends.
- 👥 Populism is defined as the belief that the people should have a say in their government, not as a pitting of groups against each other.
- 🏛️ The speaker argues that populism is fundamental to democracy, citing examples from American and British political systems.
- 📚 Historical references are made to the importance of populism in the foundation of democratic principles.
- 🚫 The speaker warns against the dangers of trying to quell populist instincts, suggesting that it could lead to further division and discontent.
- 🤝 The speaker proposes embracing populism to reclaim it from demagogues and restore it as a positive force in democracy.
- 💪 The call to action is to fight against the negative aspects of populism by using populist tactics, such as simple messages and addressing systemic issues.
- 🌟 The final takeaway is a call to 'make populism great again,' emphasizing the need to restore populism to its core democratic ideals.
Q & A
What is the speaker's initial stance on populism before the debate?
-The speaker initially believes that populism is a threat to democracy and views it as an inherent evil.
Who does the speaker credit as the ultimate source of all political knowledge?
-The speaker humorously credits Rory Stewart and Alister Campbell's politics podcast as the ultimate source of all political knowledge.
What does the speaker argue is the core of populism?
-The speaker argues that the core of populism is the notion that the people should have a say in their government.
How does the speaker describe the current form of right-wing populism globally?
-The speaker describes the current form of right-wing populism as having an iron grip on politics, often leading to close-mindedness, hostility, and intolerance.
What examples does the speaker provide of politicians who have been influenced by populism?
-The speaker provides examples of Liz Truss, Jeremy Corbyn, and Donald Trump as politicians influenced by populism.
What does the speaker believe is the fundamental principle of the world's most powerful democracy?
-The speaker believes that the fundamental principle of the world's most powerful democracy is 'government of the people, by the people, and for the people.'
What does the speaker suggest is the danger of labeling all populists negatively?
-The speaker suggests that labeling all populists negatively can alienate the electorate and provide ammunition to demagogues who exploit populist sentiment.
What is the speaker's proposed method to fight against the negative aspects of populism?
-The speaker proposes embracing populism and fighting on the turf of the populists, using their tactics to restore democracy and ensure it works for all.
How does the speaker define the term 'populism' in the context of the debate?
-The speaker defines populism as not pitting groups against each other but as the belief that ordinary people should be represented by their government.
What historical reference does the speaker make to support the argument that populism is fundamental to democracy?
-The speaker references the government of Ancient Greece, considered the cradle of democracy, to argue that populism is a vital constituent pillar of the democratic process.
What does the speaker conclude about the relationship between populism and democracy?
-The speaker concludes that populism is not a threat to democracy but a foundational component that has been manipulated by demagogues.
Outlines
🤔 The Complexity of Populism in Democracy
The speaker begins by expressing gratitude for the opportunity to debate and commends the committee for organizing the event. They admit to an initial bias against populism, viewing it as a threat to democracy, influenced by historical and political scholars Rory Stewart and Alister Campbell. The speaker acknowledges the negative connotations associated with populism, such as xenophobia and racism, and cites examples of divisive political figures like Liz Truss, Jeremy Corbyn, and Donald Trump. However, they argue that populism at its core is not inherently evil but rather a belief that people should have a say in their government. The speaker challenges the audience to consider populism as fundamental to democracy rather than a threat, suggesting that embracing populism could help reclaim it from demagogues.
🗳️ Populism as a Pillar of Democracy
The speaker continues to explore the concept of populism, asserting that it is not a new or inherently dangerous phenomenon. They argue that populism is not about pitting groups against each other but about the idea that people should be represented by their government. The speaker references historical and political systems, including the American and British democracies, and Ancient Greek democracy, to illustrate that populism is a foundational element of democracy. They contend that attempts to suppress populist instincts have largely failed and suggest that embracing populism is the key to fighting against demagogues who exploit it. The speaker warns against the dangers of complacency and calls for a proactive approach to restore democracy by engaging with populist sentiments.
🛡️ Fighting Populism with Populism
In the final paragraph, the speaker emphasizes the need to confront the rise of populism head-on by embracing its principles. They argue that simplistic messages and introspection are required to address the system's flaws that have allowed dangerous populism to emerge. The speaker calls for a direct confrontation with demagogues using populism as a weapon, suggesting that this approach can help restore democracy to a system that works for all. They conclude with a call to make populism great again, implying a reclamation of populism's original intent to serve the people rather than divide them.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Populism
💡Democracy
💡Xenophobia
💡Racialism
💡Demagoguery
💡Representation
💡Elitism
💡Intolerance
💡Political Constraint
💡International Order
💡Reclaim
Highlights
Populism is fundamental to the operation of democracy, not a threat to it.
Populism at its core is the notion that people should have a say in their government.
Populism is not inherently evil, but has been manipulated by demagogic figures.
The Western establishment's attempts to quell populist instincts have largely failed.
To fight populism, we must embrace it and reclaim it from demagogues.
Populism is not about pitting groups against each other, but about representation.
Democracy cannot exist without populism, as it is a vital constituent pillar.
The proposition's view of populism as a unique phenomenon and tool of the radical is flawed.
Populism is not new and is not inherently dangerous in itself.
Right-wing populism has driven some of the wildest political moments in recent history.
Left-wing populism can be as problematic as the right, as seen with Jeremy Corbyn.
Populism should not be dismissed as 'fruitcakes, loonies, and closet racists'.
We must fight populism on its own turf, not try to drag it onto our terms.
There are dangers in embracing populism, but greater dangers in allowing incompetent government.
Populism is a means of expressing discontent with the established order.
Politicians must accept that populism is a foundational component of democracy.
We must use populist tactics to restore democracy and make it work for all.
The call to make populism great again, using it as a weapon to fight demagogues.
Transcripts
it is possible to be a populist and
still believe that there is more that
unites us than divides
us uh Mr President uh I would like to
begin by thanking you for giving me the
opportunity to speak tonight in the
first of many great debates this term uh
I would also like to uh Echo the words
of of gentleman who spoke before me in
uh in congratulating the whole of the
committee for putting together what
promises to be an excellent Trinity
term however this being said Mr
President I do have somewhat of a
confession to make uh while I was
absolutely beside myself with delight
when you asked me to speak in this
debate I admit that having finished our
conversation it occurred to me that I
had somewhat of an issue I did not
believe that populism is orever could be
anything but a threat to democracy uh
indeed as any good student of history
and of history and politics such as
myself knows the ultimate source of all
political knowledge is without a shadow
of a doubt Rory Stewart and aliser
Campbell the rest is politics
podcast uh I myself am an avid listener
and as they seem to be rather firmly in
the anti-populist category I I confess
that I took it for granted that populism
is an inherent evil indeed having
recently read Mr Stewart's Memoir it
seems the poor chap has spent his entire
career fighting the forces of populism
and falling rather short so what is it
about populism that makes it so worthy
of fighting whenever populism is
mentioned today it comes loaded with
negative connotations xenophobia racism
bigotry parano demagoguery these are all
terms that come hand inand with most of
the attacks on populism and honorable
members uh I am sure as as you already
have heard that the proposition will use
many of them tonight to some extent this
is with good reason uh the particular
form of right-wing populism which is an
iron grip on politics across the globe
today often begets a shameful level of
close-mindedness hostility and
intolerance it is the force which has
driven Britain and America to some of
its wildest and wackiest of political
moments over the last decade or so look
at Liz truss a politician so caught up
in pandering to the swashbuckling
fantasies of certain voters that she for
got basic economic competence and who in
the process reduced the Premiership to a
competition with a leafy green
vegetable look at Jeremy Corbin a
politician who demonstrates how just
like the right the left can be equally
as guilty of becoming so enamored with
making wild Promises to the electorate
and fostering their
antagonism that they forget the
Practical constraint of politics and
drive the country towards division look
at Donald Trump a man who C to the
electorate by setting his grubby fingers
on every climate and International
Security agreement that he can and
tearing them apart a man who is perhaps
admired outside of America only by
Vladimir Putin and his cronies at first
glance honorable members I cannot blame
those of you whose instincts Ally you
with the proposition um I confess Mr
President that so far I have not
delivered much of a case against the
dangers of populism uh however these
issues must be laid bare uh before I
delve into the foundation of my argument
I insist that while what we are seeing
across the globe today does demonstrate
the demagogic dangers of rampant
populism that this is not what
popularism either represents at its core
or is all that it offers to politics
today so what is populism it is not as
the proposition would have you believe a
unique phenomenon nor is it simply the
tool of the radical it is not Allied to
one party or another nor to either side
of the political debate it is not new
and it is not dangerous in itself
honorable members instead of being a
threat to democracy I would argue
firstly that populism is fundamental to
the operation of democracy and secondly
that is only through the embracing of
populism that it can be reclaimed from
the clutches of the demagogues I argue
this because populism at its very core
is not the pitting of the elite versus
the mass nor is it the Immigrant versus
the non-immigrant or the Republican
versus the Democrat it is not the Le
voter versus the rer nor is it the
educated versus the uneducated populism
is simply the notion that the people
should have a say in their government it
is possible to be a populist and still
believe that there is more that unites
us than divides us and well yes if you
Google what is populism which I confess
I did do in preparation for this
debate it it brings up results
concerning the pitting of groups against
each other it also simultaneously notes
how populism is the view that people
should be represented by their
government it also curiously brings up
articles from 2018 uh from the Sun about
how populist members of the European
Parliament was set to engage in a rap
battle in order to promote the EU to
young people uh I confess I I didn't
follow up on this and find out whether
this rap battle did take place uh but
but make of that what you
will however if we are to evaluate
populism not by how it has been co-opted
today but by what it means at its very
core who really disagrees that Ordinary
People should who have to spend their
lives under the Yoke of the state often
with little say in how the government
actually operates should not be
represented by their government indeed
as I'm sure speaker Pelosi would agree
alongside any American members of the
audience tonight is it not the doctrine
of government of the People by the
people and for the people that underpins
the foundational principle of the
world's most powerful democracy is
America not therefore a populist Nation
by its very essence for those
unconvinced or perhaps unimpressed by my
references to the American system which
I do
understand is it not the no thanks
uh is it not the British Parliament
which is so frequently Ted as the mother
of all parliaments
[Applause]
is it not uh uh upon the government of
Ancient Greece the Cradle of democracy
which so much of our political
philosophy and institutions are
constructed it is clear that populism
far from being a threat to democracy it
is in fact one of the most vital
constituent pillars of the democratic
process to eradicate populism would be
to eradicate the very notion of
democracy itself in spite of what the
proposition would have you believe you
cannot have democracy without populism
what we strive to do instead of trying
to squash the Natural Instincts of the
electorate to want to be represented is
to reclaim populism indeed even if you
are unconvinced by my account of the of
populism it does not take a political
genius to recognize that the Western
establishment attempts to quell the
populist Instinct and squash populist
leaders have almost all failed in Europe
Le Pen seems set never to give up
running for the presidency and indeed
look at how close she was in both of her
uh previous
attempts uh in Britain those who
attempted to beat the populism of Nigel
farage by ridiculing his mission have
been swept from office in America the
support for those so-called populist
members of Congress such as Ted gruz or
or margerie Taylor green uh show little
sign of wavering so long as they adhere
to Trump's particular form of populism
we cannot simply brand populism the idea
of fruit cakes loonies and closet racist
to borrow from the words of illustrious
foreign
secretary because by doing so we place
ourselves at odds with the electorate
itself and we provide those seeking to
Shepherd the electorate into their
corrupted camp with the ammunition that
their campaign requires so in order to
fight populism we must embrace the fight
on their Turf not try and drag them onto
our own there are dangers in this of
course we could slip into the same for
of antagonistic quarreling and
destructive policymaking that has led
the Democratic world to where it is
today however honorable members I
implore you to consider the greater
dangers no uh the greater dangers of
allowing another decade of disarray
discontent and damningly incompetent
government if we allow the drum of
populism to be beat by the likes of
Donald Trump and his band of Corner Shop
knockoffs then the world will follow we
need only to look back at the the
attempt by supporters of bolsonaro to
recreate well a rather attempt at
recreating the January 6th Riot of 2021
democracy is sick across the world
people are rebelling against the
established order and populism is the
means by which this discontent is being
expressed however it is not the job of
populists of politicians to arrogantly
dismiss this Instinct they work for the
voters not the other way around they
must accept that populism is a
foundational component of democracy
which has been allowed to be manipulated
by demagogic figures into becoming a
powerful tool which seeks dismantle the
international order we cannot allow this
to happen but we cannot prevent it uh by
trying to rise above it we must instead
use the tactics of the populist to
restore democracy to a system which
seeks to work for all once more we must
clamber into the trenches with the
demagogues and fight them headon with
populism being our weapon of choice
simple messages and a willingness to
look inward at the features of the
system which has allowed dangerous
populism to emerge must be tackled head
on honorable members I put it to you
this way we must make populism great
again
[Applause]
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