Lecture 8.1

Populism and Social Policy

Emmanuel Teitelbaum

What is Populism?

Defining Populism

• Way of doing politics
• Four essential characteristics
  • Speaking directly to voters
  • Speaking as outsiders
  • Pitting ordinary people against elites
  • Post-truth rhetoric

Populism vs. Neoliberalism

• Economic views predate neoliberalism
• Focus on domestic rather than international markets
• Attack rights agenda of “mature” neoliberalism
• Attacks on the poor
• Authoritarian tactics

Causes of Populism

Increased Inequality

• Within countries
  • Top 1%
  • Privatization
  • Trade liberalization
  • Flexible labor markets
• Between countries
  • Winners and losers
  • EOI vs. ISI
  • 2008 financial crisis

Social Policy

• Emphasis on “service provisioning”
  • Instead of welfare states
• Provisioning through private sector
  • outsourcing
  • NGOs
• Led to enrichment of public servants

Individual Rights

• New rights granted to women, minorities and the poor
• Done through elite bargains rather than social movements
• Reflected in macro-agendas of International Orgs
  • “Millenium Development Goals”
  • “Sustainable Development Goals”
• Led to backlash among middle-class voters

Discussion

Country Cases

• Philippines

• United States

• Brazil

• How did populist leaders in these countries harness resentments against women and minorities?

How Should International Orgs Respond?

• Should we modify/abandon…
  • Millennium Development Goals
  • Sustainable Development Goals
• Should reforms occur at a different pace?
• Should different economic policies be promoted?
  • Less emphasis on openness?
  • More emphasis on redistribution?
  • Other ideas?