Inclusionary populism: old antagonisms, new challenges

Scanlan, Michael Andrew (2022) Inclusionary populism: old antagonisms, new challenges. PhD thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

This thesis seeks to chart the development of inclusionary populism, that is populism that seeks to expand membership of the people and not exclude from it on the basis of nationality, ethnicity, sexuality or other discriminations, in order to better understand this phenomenon. Existing literature on inclusionary populism tends to focus on Southern European and Latin American territories and on inclusionary populism as a means to improve economic circumstances through redistributive policies. Limited attention is paid to parties outwith these territories and to the other demands advanced by inclusionary populists.

The thesis attempts to answer the question: what, if anything distinguishes contemporary iterations of inclusionary populism from traditional ones? To do so it builds an initial typology of inclusionary populist parties through analysis of historic inclusionary populism identifying three distinct types: nationalist, egalitarian and anti-colonial. The theories of Laclau and Mouffe are then leveraged to create a framework of analysis which is applied to data obtained through elite semi-structured interviews from the SNP, SYRIZA and Sinn Féin along with data from manifestos of these parties. The analytical framework and data allow for a more advanced and detailed typology to be constructed which then demonstrates the development of each type of inclusionary populism. This process is followed by a comparative analysis which reveals how each type has developed into a more heterogenous form which articulates multiple demands across multiple policy areas.

The data analysis reveals a heterogenous people, challenging the belief that a populist people are homogenous, whose diverse identities are united by their demands being unfulfilled and their exclusion from political, economic and social life.

The thesis concludes that these new forms have emerged due to wider societal changes which inclusionary populist movements reflect. The implications of the findings of the thesis impact not only on populism studies but on wider contemporary debates in political science such as party families, sub-state actors and political representation. The thesis provides both a platform and direction for further research into inclusionary populism.

• Item Type: Thesis (PhD)
• Qualification Level: Doctoral
• Colleges/Schools: College of Social Sciences > School of Social and Political Sciences
• Supervisor's Name: Tsakatika, Dr. Myrto, Gherghina, Dr. Sergiu and Beveridge, Dr. Ross
• Date of Award: 2022
• Depositing User: Theses Team
• Unique ID: glathesis:2022-82915
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 31 May 2022 13:13
• Last Modified: 31 May 2022 13:15
• Thesis DOI: 10.5525/gla.thesis.82915
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/82915