Practicing Left-Populism in Political Parties The Case of Spain, Greece and Thailand
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Abstract
This research is the study of the application of the theory and strategy of Left-wing populist politics with three political parties in three countries. Cases were picked by parties that revealed that they are the adherents of Left-wing populist theories/strategies influenced by Ernesto Laclau and Chantal Mouffe. The case studies were these political parties in three countries: 1. Podemos in Spain 2. Syriza in Greece and 3. Future Forward Party in Thailand. The study was conducted via previous research, academic books, and recorded interviews in the case of Podemos and Syriza. And through both documents and conducted in-depth interviews on the case of the Future Forward Party. The research begins with the political context of the countries, which is a condition for left-wing populism. Then the formation of the said political parties and see how they construct the "people" in the term of populism. Moreover, the adoption of concepts such as the chain of equivalence, the nodal point, or the articulation of demand of the people, to see how they are applied to the political context of the political party in each country. In conclusion, the research found that the emergence of Left-wing populism is a product of the demand to change from the people in that country. Which may have different causes, for example, it may be caused by both economic problems, undemocratic political problems or inequality or injustice. Then the “people'' will pass these demands onto political parties that truly represent the “people” as a whole. Thus, those political parties must present policies to campaign for elections that meet the needs of the people, to line out political frontiers, in order to create ‘popular identity’. Once they are entrusted to come into power, it will prove whether those political parties implement changes to those problems. It could be concluded that winning elections and holding power may not be a measure of the success of left-wing populism. Due to the limitations of being the state’s power. However, success may not be achieved in a short period of time. But it was success that revived the political life of the state. It is the people who play an important role in making politics politicized.
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