Civilizational Populism: Definition, Literature, Theory, and Practice

The purpose of this article is to clarify the concept ‘civilizational populism’ and work towards a concise but operational definition. To do this, examines how populists across world, in variety different religious, geographic, political contexts, incorporate instrumentalize notions ‘civilization’ into their discourses. observes that although number scholars have described civilization turn among populists, there currently no concrete definition populism, which requires greater clarity. also that, while often found Europe incorporating ‘the clash civilizations’ discourses, non-Western environments appear incorporated yet these are rarely studied. first part begins by discussing ‘civilizationism’, discourse emphasizes civilizational aspect social especially national identity. Following discusses populism describes itself cannot succeed unless it adheres wider programme or broader set ideas, without engendering exploiting ‘crisis’ threatens people’. then existing literature on evident populists. second builds previous section relationship between civilizationism worldwide. paper three key nations representing world’s major faiths, geographical regions: Turkey, India, Myanmar. makes findings. First, generally examined identity European North American right-wing populist rhetoric, we find occurring range geographies religious contexts. Second, when gives content signifiers: pure people’, corrupt elite’, ‘dangerous ‘others’. In each case studied article, use based classification peoples draw boundaries around ‘elites’ ‘others’, declare people’ ‘pure’ ‘good’ because they belong good, authentic insofar as created nation culture claim be defending. Conversely, describe elites having betrayed abandoning religion and/or values shaped were civilization. Equally, minorities ‘dangerous’ others who morally bad foreign civilization, therefore with antithetical those ‘our’ Third, rhetoric effective populists’ can, adding element vertical horizontal dimensions crisis occurring. Finally, studies, defines group ideas together considers politics should an expression volonté générale (general will) people, society ultimately separated two homogenous antagonistic groups, versus elite’ collaborate dangerous belonging other civilizations hostile present clear danger way life people.