"Rightwing populists always promise they will get things done when they get into power. Immigration will be halted. Government waste will be eradicated. Traditional values will be revived."
"Yet, in office, its performance is rarely better than that of more orthodox ruling approaches, and often far worse. Look at Trump's half-abandoned tariffs, backfiring war on Iran and barely implemented Gaza peace plan."
"Paradoxically, the sheer number of failures helps underachieving populists in some ways, because each failure draws attention away from another. Like an office worker who has had too much coffee, Trump starts projects overconfidently."
Rightwing populists promise decisive action on issues like immigration, government waste, and national greatness. They claim to cut through bureaucracy and deliver results quickly. However, their actual performance in office often falls short of these promises, with many initiatives left unfulfilled or counterproductive. Examples include Trump's tariffs and Boris Johnson's hospital pledges. The multitude of failures can obscure individual shortcomings, creating an illusion of progress. This dynamic raises questions about how opponents of populism can effectively highlight these failures.
#rightwing-populism #political-promises #government-performance #voter-perception #political-failures
Read at www.theguardian.com
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