Nationalist, populist, far-right parties eye rising support across Europe

Riding waves of fear and anger emanating from Russia’s war in Ukraine, the cost-of-living crisis and the coronavirus pandemic, nationalist, populist and far-right parties are eyeing rising support across Europe.

Polls have suggested that a backlash against immigration, LGBTQ rights, abortion and support for Ukraine is unfolding across the continent.

That has political forces branding themselves “conservative” and “patriotic” eyeing next year’s EU elections as a prime test.

How Populism Helped Wreck Venezuela

What’s the problem with populism? Why, in some circles, has the term acquired such a negative connotation? After all, you could argue that populism is simply the promotion of popular ideas with which elites disagree. You could think of it as a movement to uproot a political establishment that has become unresponsive to the public. But populism can also be described as a political logic by which politicians claim to exclusively represent the righteous people in a struggle against the corrupt elite. And the hazards of adhering to that logic are on display right now in Venezuela.

No easy answers: why left-wing economics is not the answer to right-wing populism

On November 20, less than two weeks after Donald Trump’s upset win, Bernie Sanders strode onto a stage at Boston’s Berklee Performance Center to give the sold-out audience his thoughts on what had gone so disastrously wrong for the Democratic Party.

Sanders had a simple answer. Democrats, he said, needed to field candidates who would unapologetically promise that they would be willing “to stand up with the working class of this country and ... take on big-money interests.”

Too Frightened to Change a Hated Order

The term “anti-systemic movements” was commonly used 25 years ago to characterize forces on the left in revolt against capitalism. Today, it has not lost relevance in the West, but its meaning has changed. The movements of revolt that have multiplied over the past decade no longer rebel against capitalism, but against neoliberalism—deregulated financial flows, privatized services, and escalating social inequality, that specific variant of the reign of capital set in place in Europe and America since the 1980s. The resultant economic and political order has been accepted all but indistinguishably by governments of the center-right and center-left, in accordance with the central tenet of la pensée unique, Margaret Thatcher’s dictum that “there is no alternative.” Two kinds of movement are now arrayed against this system; the established order stigmatizes them, whether from the right or left, as the menace of populism.

White populist feminism makes intersectionality nearly impossible

Over the past few years, populist politics have been on the rise across the western world. Few, however, have noticed the rise of populist feminism, a mainstream feminism that espouses to speak for and on behalf of all women, but essentially speaks for and on behalf of white, middle-class, cis-gendered and able-bodied women.

Merkel Calls For A More Open World: ‘We Won’t Get Anywhere’ With Populism

German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday said the populist hope to “return to a small world” would not benefit society, instead calling for openness and acceptance during a speech to church leaders in Würzburg, Germany.

The address was one of the first Merkel gave this year. While it didn’t specifically address the election of U.S. President Donald Trump, it was a pointed remark about the spread of nationalism in America, Britain and across Europe that’s already begun to undermine international accords and threaten efforts to deal with the ongoing migrant crisis.

Putin and the Populists

Donald Trump is practically alone in mainstream American politics in his consistent praise of Vladimir Putin and insistence that the United States would benefit from warmer relations with Russia. But that inclination to view Putin more as ally than adversary places Trump squarely in line with the racially infused, conservative-populist movements gaining ground in both America and Europe.

And that means the intra-GOP friction over Russia between Trump and more traditional foreign-policy thinkers like Senators John McCain of Arizona and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina points toward a much larger debate over the priorities that should drive American foreign policy.

GOP Senator: Even If Trump Meant It On The KKK, He's Still A Better Choice Than A Democrat

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) argued Tuesday that even if Donald Trump's controversial remarks about the KKK and David Duke were intentional, rather than a gaffe induced by a faulty earpiece, he's still a better choice for president than former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton or Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).

How Donald Trump Peddles Populism for the Rich

Donald Trump is a walking contradiction that still needs explaining. He's a first-time campaigner who's never held high office (or any office) but is trouncing accomplished politicians in the polls; an insult comedian who seems only more beloved by his fans with every wildly inappropriate remark; a habitual liar who somehow has a reputation of being unvarnished and candid. And he's running, with success that few would have ventured to predict, as a “populist billionaire”—a phrase used as early as 1988 by New York magazine and revived during his current run for the presidency. "I'm not a populist," Trump has averred, but the populist label still clings to him, in part because of own cultivation of his image as blunt-spoken man who echews elite refinement.

Critics accuse Harper of using UN, foreign affairs for domestic gain

OTTAWA - A broad coalition of former diplomats and public servants is questioning whether Stephen Harper's return to the United Nations this week is politically motivated.

The World Federalist Movement renewed its criticism Wednesday that the prime minister has snubbed the UN and downgraded Canada's relations with the world's most influential multilateral body since taking power in 2006.

John Trent, a University of Ottawa expert on international political science, said Harper's return to the UN is welcome — but could well be motivated by the prospect of a coming federal election at home.

Tories, NDP abandon principles for populism, making the two parties almost indistinguishable

The other day, the House of Commons was treated to the sight of an NDP member of Parliament, Glenn Thibeault, fulminating during Member’s Statements in a parody of Tory MPs too numerous to mention. “The Conservatives are imposing a $36-billion car tax on Canadians! This car tax will increase the price of cars first by $700, then by $1,800! Who would ever be foolish enough to impose a $36-billion car tax on the shoulders of Canadians!”

Populists, policy wonks and prime ministers

EDMONTON - For the last few years, Preston Manning has headed to Ottawa each March for a major huddle of the country’s Conservative establishment.

More than 700 showed up last year for the Manning Networking Conference — old time Reformers, cabinet ministers and Conservative caucus members, think tanks, activists and lobbyists all gathered at Congress Centre in the capital’s downtown. The topics on the table included energy policy, national defence and moving beyond the welfare state. Prime Minister Stephen Harper gave a speech.

Ottawa favouring public opinion over rational thought

State-owned enterprises have been active participants in the global economy for decades. In fact, they drive 70 per cent of activity in the global energy sector.

Canada knows a thing or two about so-called SOEs. Not so very long ago we had Petro-Canada, Canadian National and Air Canada. We still have Canada Post, which acquired Purolator Courier to compete with UPS and FedEx. We own “Crown corporations,” such as Ridley Terminals (for which I used to be chairman), which fulfills no discernible public policy purpose other than to generate profits for their owners, the taxpayer.

Stephen Harper Stampede-Week BBQ: Tories Well On Their Way With Campaign Promises

CALGARY -- Conservatives of varying, and sometimes combating, stripes gathered under a sweltering tent Saturday for Prime Minister Stephen Harper's annual Stampede-week barbecue in his Calgary riding.

Alberta Premier Alison Redford, whose Progressive Conservatives were elected in a majority government this spring, sat next to Harper at the head table.

The room applauded heartily when Redford was introduced, but not as loudly when her rival, Wildrose Party and opposition leader Danielle Smith, was asked to stand.

Harper promises 'Canada will not slip back' at Stampede barbeque

Prime Minister Stephen Harper said he is looking beyond the mandate of his current majority Conservative government and pledged to transform Canada into one of the world’s “next generation of economic powers.”

Mr. Harper told about 900 party supporters in Calgary on Saturday night that this country remains one of the world’s “rare exceptions” with a solid economy and on track to a balanced budget despite a now four-year-old global financial crisis that has crushed other nations.

Right-leaning councillors reconsider votes after Ford’s support plummets

Publicly, councillors within mayor Rob Ford’s voting bloc say they are unshaken by a massive poll that shows plummeting support for the mayor and his agenda.

But privately, a number of right-leaning and centrist councillors say they will not be voting for many of the proposed service cuts — such as daycares, libraries, zoos, farms and arts funding — telling the mayor: I can’t politically afford it.

“People don’t feel good about how things have been happening and they’re taking a look at those numbers,” said one.

Others dismissed the Forum Research poll’s credibility because it was paid for by CUPE Local 79.

“I’m getting (automated) robocalls in my ward, someone phoning up and saying: ‘Do you know Doug Holyday wants to close libraries?’ Push one to reach his office, and they get right through,” said deputy mayor Holyday. “I think the unions are targeting library card holders to do this and I think the poll is more of that.”