Departments of International Relations and Political Sciences of Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences of Near East University hosted serial conferences that addressed one of the most controversial topics in international politics, populism.
It was pointed out that as a global phenomenon, the concept of populism was discussed on two different dates and academics combined different international experiences and made presentations within a comparative platform to discuss populism.
Furthermore, the main causes and effects of the rise of far-right and populist parties, which manifested in different ways in many regions, were examined with especial focus on the European Union countries known as the bastion of democracy. Here it was noted that the populist threat should be seen as a situation beyond the extreme right.
According to the press release issued by the Directorate of Press and Public Relations of Near East University, taking place at the conference as a speaker, Prof. Dr. Ayhan Kaya from Istanbul Bilgi University made a presentation titled as “Right Winged Populism in Europe: What is Hidden in the Background?” Furthermore, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Sözen from Eastern Mediterranean University made a presentation titled as “The Rise of Populist Politics. Is it a populist moment or a long-term populist period?”
Presentations and discussions were held on research results on rising nativist and Islamist far-right in Europe. Moreover, globalization and socioeconomic difficulties deepened by the 2007-2008 crisis were among the factors put forward at the conference.
Right Populism Creates a Wave of Authoritarianism
It was stated that with the proliferation of neoliberal governance approach, there is a serious decline in the welfare state approach. It was emphasized that the decline in the living standards of certain groups due to the problems experienced in the sharing of prosperity and wealth was one of the factors that paved the way for the rise of far-right populist parties in Europe. This in return is said to allow the far-right parties, which were shown as the main populist threat, to strengthen. What is more, it was emphasized that with the recent developments, populism has found support beyond the far-right groups. To add, it was found that the main supporters of the far-right populist party were generally male members of the working class or lower class, low education level, middle age and above, and limited mobility. With the recent developments, and especially with the increasing immigration and anti-Islamic influence, women, LGBT individuals, even those who define themselves as environmentalists, who were not considered as supporters of populist approach have all become supporters of populism. Therefore, it was stressed that this reveals that populism has reached a point that cannot be identified with far-right or right politics, and it has created forms of organization that are increasingly gaining support from left and environmentalist groups. Furthermore, during the discussions at the conference, it was pointed out that this caused the parties in the centre to shift to more populist discourses; and according to the studies conducted, it was revealed that radicalization showed itself more strongly not only within the framework of extreme right or right politics but also in the Islamist sections.
Populism Creates Polarization and Separation
It was stated that this attitude had turned into a reactive attitude based on the assumption that the state could not perform its function and it was emphasized that a nostalgic yearning, a myth based future was tried to be established on the basis of achieving the past prosperity. Additionally, one of the other elements stated at the conference was that populist politics had a political approach that emphasized public proclamation with simple propositions.
On this basis popularism is seeking to establish its own order with the politics of crisis, threat and fear; in addition to globalization and order, with an anti-elitist and anti-intellectual attitude, the world is based on dilemmas such as 'good people' and 'corrupt elite'/the polarizing decomposition which all come to the fore. Accordingly, against basic European Union values such as multiculturalism, a strong and exclusive separatist discourse that adopts a number of elements such as anti-order, xenophobia, anti-Semitism, anti-Islam, anti-immigration is adopted. It was also stated that the central parties, who are worried about losing votes or trying to benefit from this situation, also spread over time.
Increasing Populist Thought poses a threat
Another highlighted point at the conferences was the issue of what to do against the alarming rise and spread of the growing populist threat. One of the common points in both speeches held during discussions which was emphasized was that more inclusive and common points towards populism and the far right should be taken at the forefront of values.
