Jeremy Corbyn and the Limits of Authentic Rhetoric

Corbynism, populism and the re-shaping of left politics in contemporary Britain

“…Thus, although it is true that Corbyn has generated a degree of affection and adulation that has prompted some to call him a political 'rock star' (see Crace 2016), it is equally important to note that Corbyn's conception of leadership is a process oriented, collective one in which his assigned role is to be an 'enabler' and 'organiser,' that is, 'someone who can make space for people to do things that he cannot' (Seymour 2016: 206). In this way, Corbyn presents himself as a symbol of and a conduit for Labour's 'core values' (Bennister et al, 2017), rather than as a heroic agent standing above his followers. Interestingly, when asked about the possible similarities between Corbynism, Podemos and Syriza, a number of our interviewees expressed some doubts about the significance of the overlaps, arguing that while all three social forces can be seen as a response to the generalised breakdown in public trust in politiciansas one interviewee put it, Corbyn's new politics is 'of the same moment [but] not in the same tradition' (interview with Momentum national organiser, 19/04/16) -Corbynism was different to the extent that it was building on an already established tradition of left politics in the UK and that, in their view, it tended to be more a 'horizontal,' participatory and inclusive project than either its counterparts in Greece or Spain.…”