Right-Populists and Plebiscitary Politics in Canada

Abstract

This paper attempts to explain the appeal direct democratic instruments hold for contemporary right-populist parties by drawing on recent experience in Canada. Our thesis is that a particular approach to direct democracy - which we label `plebiscitarianism' - complements right-populist parties' broader ideological commitment to a scaling back of the welfare state, and of public life more generally. Starting with a theoretical approximation of plebiscitarianism, we trace this complementarity with reference to the democratic ideas and practices of right-populists in Canada, both historically and in the present context.

Right‐wing populist party supporters: Dissatisfied but not direct democrats

“…If parliament did not pass it, the bill would be ‘automatically referred for referendum at the same time as the next election’ (see http://www.gwb.com.au/onenation/qldstate/cbr.htm). In Canada, RP/CA proposed mechanisms for referendums and recall in its platforms (Barney & Laycock ). In line with the party's contention that democratic representation had been corrupted by the traditional parties, the RP/CA argued that direct democracy would ‘enable the common sense of the common people to emerge and be recognized’ (Barney : 178–179).…”

Varieties of populism: insights from the Italian case

“…The power of common people vs. legitimacy of the current political establishment (a discursive challenge to 'institutions'; Laclau, 2005) Challenge to both the political and economic establishments and elite values of the type held by opinion-formers in the academia and the media' (Canovan, 1999: 3) The primary goal of these statements is to 'delegitimise established structures of interest articulation and aggregation' (Barney and Laycock, 1999: 321) Ideology Society: two homogeneous and antagonistic groups/ bodies ('the pure people' vs. 'the corrupt elite') Manichean: for the people against the elite (Mudde, 2004) People Elites Antagonistic relation Conspiracy theory The presence of a charismatic (new kind of) leadership (Who) embodies the will of the common people and is able to speak on their behalf Taboo breakers and fighters against political correctness A strategy of 'political mobilization' (Jansen, 2011) Leader direct mentions Leader role description Leader relationship with voter/party members Statute powers Style of commmunication Without intermediaries Appeal to emotions of fear and enthusiasm Adoption of a demagogic style and refer to resentment, offering easy solutions for complex problems Unconventional style of campaigning ('unmediated and not institutionalized way of representation'; Weyland, 2001) References to hate Offering of easy solutions to complex problems Appeal to emotions of fear and enthusiasm Direct and non-institutional/formal style EU = European Union. a For the way we measured each indicators please see the methodological sections, plus the footnotes of the tables in the text.…”

Populistinės ideologijos partijos Baltijos šalyse 2011–2012 m.

“…Anot populistų, tik paprastų žmonių balsas privalo būti išgirs-tas 27 . Praktiškas tokių nuostatų įgyvendinimas -įvairių tiesioginės demokratijos elementų įdiegimas politinėje sistemoje.…”