Carlos Alberto Montaner: Is your prime minister populist? 10 characteristics: from Caudijism to Clientelism

by Carlos Alberto Montaner

Is your prime minister a "populist"? Calling a politician or a ruler "populist" means discrediting him. But what are the characteristics of a "populist" ruler?

The last, much more extended reading of this decalogue inspired by Jan-Werner Müller's short essay ("What is populism"), made many of those present, during my speech in Mexico, receiving the Roads of Freedom Award, think I was talking about Andrés Manuel López Obrador*.

It wasn't my intention, but if this jacket fits him well, let him wear it. In my opinion, the interesting thing about the term is that it is applied to both the right and the left.

            Caudillism (leadership) - In general, populism begins with the acceptance of a caudillo (leader, leader), to whom all the virtues are attributed and who is appointed to be the great representative of the popular will. He stands above all institutions and his word becomes the sacred dogma of the homeland. Stalin, Mussolini, Hitler, Franco, Peron, Fidel Castro, Hugo Chávez, Nicolas Maduro, and many others, each in his own way, are examples of the caudillo.

            Monopoly - Only "we" are the true representatives of the people. "Others" are enemies of the people. Thus, the "others" are worthless beings who deserve only our utmost contempt. Chavez called his opponents "majunches," a Venezuelan term meaning "stupid or useless."

            Adamism – Comes from Adam, the first man. That is, the story begins with them. According to them, the past is only a continuation of failures, evils, and betrayals. The history of the homeland begins with those who, after centuries of evil governance, has come to power for the good of the people.

            Nationalism – Nationalism, in general, is a belief associated with a supposed national identity. It is usually exclusive and leads to racism or other forms of social exclusion. In the economic field, it leads to protectionism or to two apparently opposite reactions: isolation so that no one interferes with our affairs and propaganda to spread our high system of organization. Nowadays, this nationalism is transformed into "anti-globalism".

            Statism - Populists, almost always statists, want to put all the powers in their hands because that's the only way they will meet the needs of the "beloved people". They do not believe in the spontaneous and free development of society. Populist leaders aim for the complete subjugation of wealth creators, therefore they try to turn them, and often succeed, into "rent seekers".

            Clientelism - Populist rulers do not have supporters, but clients, to whom they owe many things. They please these "subsidy hunters". The populists understand that the policy is to create millions of grateful stomachs, which should be in honor of the prime minister who feeds them, therefore, for this, they should end up as the basis of his support.

           Centralization of all powers - Caudijo controls everything: the justice system, the legislative system, the media, etc. He tries to do this by all means. The separation of powers and the so-called checks and balances are trampled by him.

           Officials are not at the service of society, but at the service of the "populist" leader - The rulers control and manipulate economic agents, starting with the national bank, which becomes a machine for printing banknotes as the caudillo dictates.

           Double language - Semantics becomes the battlefield and words take on a different meaning. "Freedom" becomes "obedience", "loyalty" becomes "submission", etc. Homeland, nation, and leader are summed up in the same word, the latter, and any discrepancy between these words is called "treason".

            The disappearance of every trace of civil kindness - On their part, only a language of hatred, aggressiveness, and violence are used. The leader thinks that anyone who comes before him is an enemy, whom he always calls a worm, a seller of the motherland, a person devoted to the worst interests, etc.

Ultimately, the populist leader is destined to destroy the other.

And I, again, am asking you: is your prime minister a populist?

Know that it is not necessary to have all 10 characteristics. Five of them are enough.

*Andrés Manuel López Obrador – President of Mexico

In Albanian by Bajram Karabolli