Populism — Outsider Opinion — Outsider Dr Hannah White

Can you remember now your reaction to the referendum result? Some of you I imagine celebrated, others were perhaps shocked, or pretended it wasn’t happening. I was still in bed when I heard the news on the radio: the UK had voted to leave the European Union. I remember the immediate sense of loss and then my anger. For I had the impression, overnight, a part of my identity had been altered in a way I had little influence over. The referendum result seemed to signify a collective rejection (by the slimmest of majorities) of the principles of collaboration and reciprocity with our closest neighbours and as I processed the news, I questioned whether I still wanted to be associated with our apparently insular, self-regarding nation.

Hannah WhiteJuly 31, 2019Brexit, Boris, Europe, EU, Identity, Populism, UK, London, Cycle touringComment

What is populism?

In this period of political instability and Trump leading the US, the words ‘populist’ and ‘populism’, are increasingly used. But what actually is populism and why is it bad for democracy? Our recent trip to Italy, where we came across the Five Star Movement, got me wondering. How do you tell apart a progressive political movement, which pledges to reform policy and overhaul the political system for the benefit of the people, and a populist?

Hannah WhiteJanuary 18, 2018Italy, Italian election, Five Star Movement, Beppe Grillo, Populism, Europe, populist Comment