Question of stance...

[Comrade Kaile]

I'm confused about the ideology of Populism. My friends were talking about Thailand in maths, and mentioned the leader they put in was a populist, I was confused and asked, but I was told that it was neither a left or right stance, so I'm just wondering what exactly it is.
Thanks for your opinions.

[Pogue]

I'm confused about the ideology of Populism. My friends were talking about Thailand in maths, and mentioned the leader they put in was a populist, I was confused and asked, but I was told that it was neither a left or right stance, so I'm just wondering what exactly it is.
Thanks for your opinions.

Populism refers to more a tactic of bourgeois politicians to appeal to whatever the mood of the vast majority of the people in the country is at the time. So it'd be lacking a coherent ideological position and would contain a mixture of left and right in an opputunist attempt to win over as many people as possible. So for example in Thailand the guy calls for land reforms to appease people in rural areas but then he isn't left wing, as he also supports business. Its popular with fascists and basically is an attempt to get as many people over to your side as possible.

[Comrade Kaile]

So its kind of like Hitler in the 1920's and his massive rally's basically calling the opinions of the people to gain support?

[Pogue]

Hitler used it, and its basically when a politican says whatever they think they need to say to win support. Its not a set, coherent ideological position although most populist leaders have alot in common in their approach and policies.

[cb9's_unity]

Populism isn't really an ideology. Most of the time its used as an insult against politicians who take the needs of the people into concern or campaign in a way that is popular for the lower majority class.

The term really doesn't hold much ideological meaning.

[Rjevan]

As said before, populism is no ideology, it could also be labeled opportunism or demagogy. You look what people want to hear the most and then talk to them exactly about that, often in a very emotional way which lacks a proper argumentation and just aims to win the masses.
Hitler was a populist and in my opinion Obama is a good example of a populist, too.

[Holger Meins]

Populism is what every party degrades into when elections is at hand.

[STJ]

Yes it is.

[khad]

It's useful to think about populism as a political language, not so much an actual coherent ideology.