22 Populism
-
Gregor Fitzi
Abstract
The keyword provides an historical introduction to the topic of populism and to the difficulties of its scientific definition. By reconstructing the meaning of the concept in the state of art it describes the specific political morphology of populism since the financial and economic crisis of 2007/08. This introduces us to the possible explanation of the societal backdrop of populism, which concerns the transformation of welfare state systems under the pressure of neoliberal policies in the last decades. To analyse this context, an historical sociological frame of analysis is developed that articulates in six steps. Firstly, the sociological theory of legitimation crisis in late capitalism is presented and critically reframed with reference to current societal change. Secondly, the social fragmentation risen in recent decades, especially the transformation of labour markets, is examined. Subsequently, a symptomatic of the populist mobilisation is established focusing on the relationship between its social and political factors of development. Fourthly, the keyword reconstructs the vertical and horizontal divides that populist mobilisations establish within society. Then, the consequences are assessed that populist mobilisations have on welfare state systems. Finally, the conclusions give a short outlook on the possible developments of populism in the era after the historical caesura represented by the 2020/21 pandemic
Abstract
The keyword provides an historical introduction to the topic of populism and to the difficulties of its scientific definition. By reconstructing the meaning of the concept in the state of art it describes the specific political morphology of populism since the financial and economic crisis of 2007/08. This introduces us to the possible explanation of the societal backdrop of populism, which concerns the transformation of welfare state systems under the pressure of neoliberal policies in the last decades. To analyse this context, an historical sociological frame of analysis is developed that articulates in six steps. Firstly, the sociological theory of legitimation crisis in late capitalism is presented and critically reframed with reference to current societal change. Secondly, the social fragmentation risen in recent decades, especially the transformation of labour markets, is examined. Subsequently, a symptomatic of the populist mobilisation is established focusing on the relationship between its social and political factors of development. Fourthly, the keyword reconstructs the vertical and horizontal divides that populist mobilisations establish within society. Then, the consequences are assessed that populist mobilisations have on welfare state systems. Finally, the conclusions give a short outlook on the possible developments of populism in the era after the historical caesura represented by the 2020/21 pandemic
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Contents V
-
Part I Research methods
- 1 Contemporary welfare states and their challenges 3
- 2 Four families of theories to understand welfare state change 13
- 3 Evidence-Based Policy-Making 29
-
Part II Welfare regimes
- 4 Nordic welfare states: up to challenge? 47
- 5 Continental European welfare states 65
- 6 Liberal welfare states 85
- 7 The Southern European welfare model 101
- 8 Eastern European welfare states 119
- 9 In search of a suitable path for welfare system development in China 135
- 10 East Asia: welfare determinants and issues in the post-developmentalism era 151
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Part III Issues and challenges
- 11 Health policy in a comparative perspective 173
- 12 COVID-19 and the welfare state: impacts, mechanisms, and responses 187
- 13 Through the COVID-19 pandemic: perspectives for the welfare state 213
- 14 Long-Term Care in ageing societies 233
- 15 Pension 255
- 16 The legitimacy of the welfare state in the age of migration 271
- 17 Education and the welfare state: worlds of early school leaving in Europe 285
- 18 Economic inequality – a growing issue? 309
- 19 Poverty in the five welfare regimes of Europe 321
- 20 Employment and unemployment 343
- 21 Sustainability 359
- 22 Populism 375
- 23 Behavioural public policy 389
- 24 North–South divide and global social policy 403
- 25 Incentives-disincentives – the benefit side of the welfare states 417
-
Part IV Future research needs
- 26 The future of welfare states? 433
- Contributors to this volume 439
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Contents V
-
Part I Research methods
- 1 Contemporary welfare states and their challenges 3
- 2 Four families of theories to understand welfare state change 13
- 3 Evidence-Based Policy-Making 29
-
Part II Welfare regimes
- 4 Nordic welfare states: up to challenge? 47
- 5 Continental European welfare states 65
- 6 Liberal welfare states 85
- 7 The Southern European welfare model 101
- 8 Eastern European welfare states 119
- 9 In search of a suitable path for welfare system development in China 135
- 10 East Asia: welfare determinants and issues in the post-developmentalism era 151
-
Part III Issues and challenges
- 11 Health policy in a comparative perspective 173
- 12 COVID-19 and the welfare state: impacts, mechanisms, and responses 187
- 13 Through the COVID-19 pandemic: perspectives for the welfare state 213
- 14 Long-Term Care in ageing societies 233
- 15 Pension 255
- 16 The legitimacy of the welfare state in the age of migration 271
- 17 Education and the welfare state: worlds of early school leaving in Europe 285
- 18 Economic inequality – a growing issue? 309
- 19 Poverty in the five welfare regimes of Europe 321
- 20 Employment and unemployment 343
- 21 Sustainability 359
- 22 Populism 375
- 23 Behavioural public policy 389
- 24 North–South divide and global social policy 403
- 25 Incentives-disincentives – the benefit side of the welfare states 417
-
Part IV Future research needs
- 26 The future of welfare states? 433
- Contributors to this volume 439
