POPULISM may not have negative connotations per se, but its use as a tool to consolidate political power is dangerous and unethical. Misuse of populism gives rise to extremist tendencies by stoking up the sentiments of jingoistic nationalism. There is a reason why a popular leader is different from a populist leader. Both happen to be popular, but the latter abuses the popularity element while the former doesn’t.

In the last decade or so, some populist leaders have mainstreamed hyper-nationalism and downplayed the essence of human rights. For instance, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been a frontrunner among the populists, exploiting rightwing sentiments to spread hatred and prejudice against the minorities, especially the Muslims, in India.

Additionally, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), being a fascist regime, has brutalised Kashmiri people and snatched all their basic rights. The Indian government has changed the special status of the occupied territory by abrogating Articles 370 and 35A of the Indian constitution. This is a blatant violation of United Nations (UN) resolutions.

Similarly, Joe Biden’s predecessor, Donald Trump, had accentuated the policy of ‘America first’ and renounced international treaties and agreements to which the United States had been a signatory.

Moreover, the Trump administration moved against immigrants coming to the US even though immigration from around the world had given that country its diversity, its multi-culturism.

Recent developments in global politics have given credence to the fact that populists are threatening world peace.

The Sino-US rivalry, the Russian military intervention in Ukraine, and the Indo-US alliance are all relevant, pertinent and potent indications of the emergence of populist leaders who not only fan rabid nationalism, but also force the world into this war or that conflict.

Abdul Wahid
Lahore

Published in Dawn, October 11th, 2022