The State as a Firm: Understanding the Autocratic Roots of Technocratic Populism

Abstract

Why, when, and how does populism emerge in a stable democracy? This article investigates the political logic and ideological appeal of a rarely explored form of populism: technocratic populism. Technocratic populism uses the appeal of technical expertise to connect directly with the people, promising to run the state as a firm, while at the same time delegitimizing political opponents and demobilizing the electorate by instilling civic apathy. Technocratic populism is an anti-elite ideology that exploits competence to create the appearance of authenticity and proximity to ordinary people. It is less exclusionary than nativist or economic forms of populisms and its broad appeal is therefore arguably more threatening to representative democracy. In order to understand the appeal of technocratic populism, as well as why it arises at critical junctures when dominant ideologies are in turmoil, we argue that one must not ignore its historical roots, which shows that it transcends both regime changes and the traditional left–right divide. The article develops and examines these points using evidence from communist-era populist campaigns against “elitist” dissidents (from Charter 77) in the Czech Republic, and demonstrates how post-1989 politicians have exploited and also adapted ideas and strategies from the authoritarian past for the new democratic setting. The article highlights the adaptive character of technocratic populism across political regimes.

Illiberal Trends and Anti-EU Politics in East Central Europe: Major Findings and Avenues for Future Research

“…As already indicated, we think that research on the interrelationship between post-1989 system change and European integration, on their long-term effects and on their reassessment today, is worth being re-strengthened. The idea of a quasi-linear development towards liberal democracy also has to be adjusted to empirical reality (see Buštíková and Guasti 2019).…”

The “refugee crisis” and the transformation of the far right and the political mainstream: the extreme case of the Czech Republic

“…In addition to the notable shifts in immigration salience and position of the pillars of the old Czech party system (see Havlík 2015; Havlík and Voda 2018), there is an even more striking impact on the new dominant party in Czech politics, the "technocratic populist" Action of Dissatisfied Citizens (Akce nespokojených občanů, ANO) of Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (see Buštíková and Guasti 2019). The second-richest man in the country, Babiš founded ANO in 2012, and entered Czech parliament as the secondbiggest party the next year.…”

Is the “new” always “new”? Theoretical framework problems of new political parties’ research: The Czech Republic experience

“…tion of Dissatisfied Citizens" initiated by entrepreneur Andrej Babiš in autumn 2011 (Kopeček 2016;Cirhan -Kopecký 2017;Hájek 2017;Brunnerová 2018;Buštíková -Guasti 2018;Šárovec 2018Šárovec or Havlík 2019. 33 The comparison, as in the previous chapter, shows that VV, STAN, PP, TOP 09, ANO, LIDEM, Dawn and SPD were represented at least once in the Chamber of Deputies.…”