Left Progressive Populism and Right Nativism Against Politics As Usual

[eridani]

http://www.nationofchange.org/news/2016/02/17/the-promise-and-peril-of-the-new-populism/

Populism can be dangerous when embraced by the right because it usually comes mixed with nativism. Even before the refugee crisis began in Europe last year, such forces were gaining ground in Greece (Golden Dawn), France (Front National), Germany (Pegida) and the UK (UKIP), among others. In Hungary and Ukraine, similar extremists are actually in positions of authority. The xenophobic aspects of the Trump candidacy, while unique in some ways, are by no means a purely American phenomenon.

At the same time, the rise of the populists on both the left and right in the developed economies of the west shows that majorities in most are turning away from the neo-liberal economic theories and interventionist foreign policies establishment politicians peddle. It’s telling that the ultimate such figure, Hilary Clinton, proudly proclaims the support of Henry Kissinger, a war criminal in the opinion of many people, to criticize her opponent Bernie Sanders on foreign policy.

The attacks on Sanders, both from the Clinton camp and the media have been mild up until now compared to those on the almost accidental populist, Jeremy Corbyn, a longtime leftist who won leadership of the Labor Party after their disastrous showing in the last UK election. He and his supporters have been smeared as terrorist sympathizers by Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron for voting against airstrikes in Syria. One General even threatened a military coup if Corbyn were to take power.

Expect the attacks to continue and intensify against not only Bernie Sanders but Corbyn in the UK and groups like Podemos in Spain as these new left populists get closer to wielding real power. There are few things that elites aren’t prepared to do in multiple countries to maintain the status quo. If you don’t believe this to be true, just ask the Greeks.