British Journal of Politics and International Relations | 2022
Abstract
Populists in power often resort to the politicisation of foreign policy to generate domestic support. This article explores this process. First, it conceptualises populist politicisation of foreign policy. Second, it develops expectations on how such politicisation will take place: the distinctive features of populism (the intensity of populist discourse, the relative weight of anti-elitism and people-centrism, and a transnational understanding of the ‘people’ or the ‘elite’) will have an impact on how foreign policy is politicised. The empirical analysis focuses on selected public speeches and tweets by two populist leaders from the Global South: Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Narendra Modi. The analysis reveals huge differences: the more populist Erdoğan emphasises anti-elitism and extensively resorts to the politicisation of Turkish foreign policy by constructing foreign threats. Modi is less populist and his discourse emphasises people-centrism; as expected, he only marginally politicises foreign policy, highlighting the greatness of the Indian nation.
In this book, Prof. Sandra Destradi and GIGA-researcher Johannes Plagemann develop a novel theory of populism and foreign policy. The use of foreign policy for domestic mobilization and the personalization of decision making are key to explain different intensities of foreign policy change.
The outcome of India’s 2024 national elections will define its future course as a democracy. Examined are the key factors and trends likely to influence India’s politics and policies in the coming years.
Just in time for President Xi Jinping’s return to the world stage, from which he had been absent for nearly three years of pandemic, the 20th Party Congress has set China’s ideological course. The paper analyses the foreign policy and security agenda Xi has in store.
