Political Science Behaviors of The Populist Political Style Essay
Analyzing Populist Political Style: Biden and Trump in the 2024 Presidential Race
Populism as a political concept has generated significant academic debate, with scholars diverging on whether it’s an ideology, strategy, or political style. In the context of the American political landscape, this paper examines the applicability of the “populist political style” to the campaigns of President Joseph Biden and former President Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential race.
Defining the Three Components of the “Populist Political Style”: According to Moffitt, the “populist political style” comprises three key components:
- Moralism: This component involves framing politics as a battle between the virtuous common people and corrupt elites who undermine the interests of the people. Populist leaders using moralism appeal to traditional values, national identity, and morality to connect with their audience.
- Anti-Establishment Sentiment: Populist leaders position themselves as outsiders fighting against the entrenched political establishment. They portray the establishment as self-serving and unresponsive to the needs of the people. This component involves creating a clear divide between the “us” (the people) and “them” (the elites).
- People-Centeredness: This component emphasizes the direct connection between the populist leader and the people. Populist leaders claim to represent the true will of the people and reject the legitimacy of other political actors. They often use direct forms of communication, like social media, to bypass traditional media and connect directly with their followers.
Applying the Components to Biden and Trump:
- Moralism: Both Biden and Trump have incorporated moralistic narratives in their campaigns. Biden has emphasized unity, healing, and decency, positioning himself as a unifier against the divisive Trump era. Trump, on the other hand, has framed himself as a defender of American values and nationalism against perceived threats such as immigration and globalization.
- Anti-Establishment Sentiment: Trump’s 2016 campaign epitomized this component, as he positioned himself as an outsider businessman fighting against the political establishment. While Biden is a long-serving politician, he has tapped into anti-establishment sentiments by presenting himself as a moderate willing to work across the aisle, distancing himself from the perceived gridlock of Washington.
- People-Centeredness: Trump’s use of Twitter during his presidency exemplified this component, allowing him to communicate directly with his base. Biden’s campaign and presidency have embraced social media and direct communication, particularly to younger audiences. Both have attempted to create a personal connection with their supporters.
QUESTION
Description
OVERVIEW:
During the first half of this course, we examined populism as a theoretical concept,
noting that despite a growing interest in populism as a political and social phenomenon, the concept
remains contested, with some scholars contending that populism is a strategy, others indicating it
is an ideology, and others arguing that it is a “political style.” For your midterm examination, you
will examine the extent to which populism as a “political style” fits the American experience by
applying the concept to the Joe Biden and Donald Trump campaigns for the 2024 presidential race.
PROMPT:
Over the course of the last few weeks, we have paid particular attention to the “populist
political style” as a way to determine whether or not a candidate is “performing populism”. Given
your understanding of the “populist political style” and the American political system, are
President Joseph Biden AND former President Donald Trump populists? Why? Why not?
1. Define the three components of the “populist political style” as detailed by Moffitt.
2. Briefly outline the behaviors associated with each of the three components of the “populist
political style” (i.e., How is each component “performed”?).
3. Apply insights from the above discussion to Biden AND Trump (i.e., Are their behaviors
consistent with “performing populism”?). PLEASE NOTE: you can use BOTH course
resources AND current events materials to augment your analysis for this portion of the
paper. While you are free to use any reputable journalistic resource, Geisel provides free
access to a wide variety of reputable media sources
4. Use the above to construct your argument as to whether Biden and Trump are populists
(i.e., Are Biden and Trump broadly “performing populism” Why? Why not?).
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